Representatives from the 12 countries participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signed the agreement in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this week. The deal is meant to lead to the elimination of duties on all products made and traded within the region, including the U.S. and Canada, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia but not China or Indonesia. Negotiation of the largest free trade agreement ever started in December of 2009 and concluded in October, but the TPP has yet to come into force. The U.S. Congress will vote on the trade deal at an as yet unspecified time, but cannot amend it. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) will support passage of the TPP, saying that it should put the U.S. in a stronger position in the Asia-Pacific market.

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