Trade, Opidids on Iowa Gov's Agenda

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Governors from across the U.S. are expected to discuss international trade and the opioid crisis when they meet in Iowa on Friday.

About half of the nation's governors are in Des Moines for the summer meeting of the National Governors Association.

A bipartisan group of governors is expected to join with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to call for the passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership. They say the proposed trade agreement with several countries bordering the Pacific Ocean would increase exports and create jobs.

Governors also will hear from experts on the spiking number of overdose deaths caused by addiction to prescription pain relievers and heroin, and discuss their plans to respond. They signed a compact earlier this week pledging to fight the problem.

(KA)