"While it is not a perfect agreement, TPP is a positive step forward to ensure U.S. spirits exports will have a level playing field in several overseas markets,” says Christine LoCascio, Council Senior Vice President for International Trade, who serves as an advisor on two United States Trade Representative Trade Advisory Committees. 

“First, the TPP includes important new protections for bourbon and Tennessee whiskey—the top U.S. spirits exports globally—as well as a number of other provisions to help streamline exports of spirits throughout the TPP countries,” she pointed out. “For example, for the first time in any U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the TPP agreement includes a separate annex on distilled spirits establishing certain best practices regarding labeling and certification requirements, which will create more predictable rules for exporting U.S. spirits.”

LoCascio noted partly as a result of several previous trade liberalizing agreements, the U.S. has seen five straight years of record spirits exports, reaching over $1.56 billion in 2014, of which two thirds is U.S. whiskeys. 

Read more at source Beverageworld