Rep. Scott Peters, lashed by labor for voting for “fast-track” trade authority for President Obama, told local Democrats on Wednesday that he’ll oppose the so-called TPP if it doesn’t deliver as promised.

Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego speaks to the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club at its monthly meeting. Chris Stone photo
Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego speaks to the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club at its monthly meeting. Chris Stone photo

If the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact “doesn’t meet the objectives that [Obama] says he’s going to meet, I’ll vote against it,” Peters told 100 members and guests of the largest Democratic club in the county.

Along with fellow Democrat Susan Davis — and Republican Darrell Issa — Peters two weeks ago voted in favor of both Trade Promotion Authority, which passed, and Trade Adjustment Assistance, which was defeated. (Republican Duncan Hunter voted against both, and Democrat Juan Vargas did not vote.)

On his Fourth of July congressional break, Peters has been making the case for TPP — and drawing fire from liberals (even provoking the threat of a primary challenge).

Hoping to douse those flames, Peters in rolled-up sleeves stood on a patio of the Mission Trails Regional Park visitors center Wednesday night and took 15 minutes to explain his fast-track vote.

“I’ve had every briefing. I’ve had the ability to look at the [secret] text [of the trade deal’s negotiating strategy],” he told the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club at its monthly meeting. “I’m confident President Obama is on the right track.”

The 52nd District rep cautioned that TPP wasn’t “another NAFTA,” the much-maligned 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement that labor unions and others credit for major losses of U.S. jobs to Mexico and elsewhere.

“Every trade deal is NAFTA” in the minds of labor, Peters said. “I was unwilling to say that President Obama couldn’t do better than that.”

TPP, Peters said, contains provisions that would force other nations to meet U.S. standards for labor, human rights and environmental protection. It also could open markets for U.S. goods, thus growing jobs and wages in America.

“It’s really going to improve things in labor,” Peters said. “You would all say it’s a game-changer.”

He conceded that some environmental groups oppose TPP, sensing that it would fuel carbon emissions and climate change.

But Peters said the way America deals with climate shouldn’t be via trade deals but with an energy strategy that replaces coal and dangerous methods of natural gas extraction.

He said he wants a “very short bridge to a truly renewable energy system.”

He conceded that the Sierra Club is doubtful about TPP but that environmental groups including Oceana, the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund support for ideas to protect habitats, halt illegal logging and bar Japan from shark-finning and whaling.

Peters said he also was judging TPP on the basis of enforceability and transparency.

He said Obama wants to put American legal standards into the governing documents, which would fend off multinational corporate challenges.

Peters was critical, however, of the fact only members of Congress could see the TPP draft — brought into his office in a locked pouch. He said congressional staffers should have had access to the documents.

“The good news is that once President Obama negotiates the deal and brings it back to [Congress], it’s going to be available to all of you … for 60 days.”

He called that preview “unprecedented,” saying: “You will have access to every word in that document” before it gets to Congress.

An “up-or-down” vote will be held by the end of the year, Peters said.

“I know this has been a hotly debated thing,” he said, “but I think it’s a rational position. … You level the playing field for our workers.”