CNN’s John Berman confirmed Tuesday that Hillary Clinton once referred to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as the "gold standard" of trade deals during a fact-check of claims made the prior night at the first presidential debate.
During the debate on Monday night, Donald Trump challenged Clinton on her prior support for the trade deal when she was secretary of state.
"You called it the gold standard of trade deals. You said it was the finest deal you have ever seen," Trump said during the debate.
"You heard what I said about it and you were against it," Trump said, suggesting that Clinton only changed her mind on the trade deal once candidates like him and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) came out against it.
Clinton attempted to push back against Trump’s assertion, saying, "The facts are I did say I hoped it would be a good deal, but when it was negotiated, which I was not responsible for, I concluded it wasn’t."
Berman then noted Clinton had previously called the TPP "the gold standard" and played this clip from a speech she gave while secretary of state in 2012.
In another speech in Australia while secretary of state, Clinton said, "This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field."
"You notice no mention of the word hope there. Our verdict in this case? What Donald Trump said is true," Berman said after playing the clip. "The accusation she called the TPP the gold standard is true. He’s right."