The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its 29th annual Economic Outlook Conference on Feb. 20 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, was among the event's nine speakers and stressed the importance of global free trade. Brady said a new trade agreement with countries in the Asia-Pacific region could provide a significant economic boost to the U.S and to the local region. "We need to be in the Asia-Pacific region," he said. "This is the most dynamic growth area in the world." Brady touted the creation of the long-planned Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among the United States and 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. "This agreement is very important to Texas, with 1 million jobs tied to agreements with this region," he said. "This is a $6.5 trillion market, only succeeded by the U.S. and China economies." Brady said he hopes the agreement would be finalized by the end of the year. "These agreements mean jobs," he said.