DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A bipartisan group of governors is calling on Congress to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership despite opposition from both leading presidential candidates.
The governors of Iowa, Virginia and Louisiana said Friday the agreement would help businesses export more products and create jobs.
They joined with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, who's leading the Obama administration's efforts to sell the plan to skeptical lawmakers.
The executives spoke at the EFCO Corp. in Des Moines, a maker of concrete support systems used to build buildings, bridges and other infrastructure around the world.
Donald Trump has been an outspoken critic of the trade deal with 12 countries, saying it would hurt American workers. Hillary Clinton has also opposed the agreement.
The governors are in Iowa for the summer meeting of the National Governors Association.
AP-WF-07-15-16 1426GMT
