<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/senate-reversal-debate-on-trade-bill-117963.html?hp=lc3_4" class="">http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/senate-reversal-debate-on-trade-bill-117963.html?hp=lc3_4</a><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="story-intro format-s" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-right: 789.9375px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="summary" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><header style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2.5em; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; font-family: tablet-gothic-condensed, 'Arial Narrow', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="">Senate reversal opens debate on key trade bill</h1></header><footer class="meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0.5em;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; display: inline; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="">By <span class="vcard" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/DougPalmer.html" rel="author" class="url fn" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 700;">DOUG PALMER</a></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; display: inline; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="">5/14/15 2:38 PM EDT</div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; display: inline; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="">Updated <time datetime="2015-05-14T16:45-05:00" style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">5/14/15 4:45 PM EDT</time></div></footer></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The Senate voted Thursday to start debate on key trade legislation to “fast-track” a landmark Asia-Pacific free trade deal, reversing an embarrassing setback for President Barack Obama earlier this week and setting the stage for approval of the bill as soon as Memorial Day.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">“It’s been years, decades even, since we’ve had a real debate over U.S. trade policy on the Senate floor,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said. “And I’m quite certain that we’ve got a spirited debate ahead of all us.”</div><br class=""><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">With the help of 13 Democrats, Senate Republicans overcame opposition from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and began consideration of the trade promotion authority legislation, which would allow Obama to submit the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement to Congress for straight up-or-down votes without any amendments.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The bill is packaged with a renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance, a federal program dating to the 1960s that helps retrain workers who have lost their jobs because of import competition or companies moving production overseas. That program is opposed by many Republicans, who consider it ineffective. Still, none of the 52 Republicans who voted Thursday opposed moving the package, bringing the final tally to 65-33.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">“There are many members on my side of the aisle who have real reservations about TAA,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. “I do as well. But I expect that at the end of this process, after the Senate works its will, that TAA will be a part of the package the Senate sends to the House.”</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Ohio Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown has argued it would be “morally reprehensible” to pass the fast-track bill without renewing the aid program for displaced workers, especially in the face of White House plans to complete talks this year on the trade deal with Japan and 10 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">That would be the world’s largest free trade agreement, covering about 40 percent of world economic output. Despite White House promises that it will be the “most progressive” trade deal in history in terms of protections for workers and the environment, critics ranging from the AFL-CIO to the Sierra Club are unconvinced.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of progressive Democrats, also has taken aim at a controversial provision of trade agreements that allows companies to sue free trade partner countries over government actions that hurt the value of investments. The liberal firebrand is expected to offer an amendment to keep the investor dispute clause out of the trade agreement.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Other amendments to strengthen the workers aid program, protect “Buy America” laws, attack foreign currency manipulation and deal with human trafficking are expected during the upcoming debate.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">On the last issue, Republican leaders are looking for ways to modify a provision added to the bill during Senate Finance Committee consideration that would strip fast-track protections from trade agreements with any country ranked as doing too little to curb the problem in the State Department’s annual human trafficking report. Malaysia, one of the 12 Pacific Rim countries in the trade deal, made the list last year, potentially endangering fast-track protections for the entire pact.</div><aside class="story-related" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); padding: 0.625em 0px; margin: 0px 789.9375px 1em 0px; overflow: hidden; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><article class="format-sm story-frag" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; width: 1508px; table-layout: fixed;"><figure class="thumb" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 5.625em;"><div class="fig-graphic" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/barack-obama-war-on-left-warren-trade-117886.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(10, 124, 196);" class=""><img alt="President Barack Obama greets Elizabeth Warren, assistant to the president and special adviser to the secretary of the treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, after the announcing the nomination of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to serve as the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Monday, July 18, 2011, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block;" apple-inline="yes" id="81316333-7719-4EFE-B0AA-DFBA1FDF7331" height="49" width="90" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:200FEA04-D863-420F-AE2B-75E03330A632@hsd1.pa.comcast.net." class=""></a></div></figure><div class="summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.2; display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 0.625em;"><header style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;" class=""><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/barack-obama-war-on-left-warren-trade-117886.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(183, 0, 0);" class="">ALSO ON POLITICO</a></div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.25em; margin: 0px; font-family: tablet-gothic-condensed, 'Arial Narrow', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/barack-obama-war-on-left-warren-trade-117886.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Obama's war on the left</a></h3></header><footer class="meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 0.75em; display: inline;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/Edward-IsaacDovere.html" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 700;" class="">EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE</a></div></footer></div></article></aside><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The expected flurry of politically difficult amendments could prevent the Senate from finishing the bill before it recesses on May 22 for a weeklong post-Memorial Day break, Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune told reporters.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">“Ideally, it would be really great to put this one up on the scoreboard before Memorial Day and then to be able to have the House act on it when they come back,” the South Dakota senator said. “I think it’s going to depend entirely on the amendment process — how lengthy that becomes and how exhaustive that becomes. … I think it’s an open question at this point.”</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Just two days ago, Reid rallied the support of all but one Democrat — Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware — to block consideration of the fast-track bill because of fears that Republicans would abandon a related measure to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. trade laws that was not included in the trade promotion authority package.</div><aside class="story-related" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); padding: 0.625em 0px; margin: 0px 789.9375px 1em 0px; overflow: hidden; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><article class="format-sm story-frag" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; width: 1508px; table-layout: fixed;"><figure class="thumb" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 5.625em;"><div class="fig-graphic" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/barack-obama-fails-trade-deal-trans-pacific-partnership-117865.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(10, 124, 196);" class=""><img alt="President Barack Obama removes his suit jacket and starts to walk off stage after speaking at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., Friday, May 8, 2015. Obama visited the giant athletic apparel company to make his trade policy pitch as he struggles to win over Democrats for what could be the last major legislative push of his presidency. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block;" apple-inline="yes" id="94A5659F-C496-4DE6-8439-01E6323CA508" height="49" width="90" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:FD415FD1-ED96-4901-9105-74E687440509@hsd1.pa.comcast.net." class=""></a></div></figure><div class="summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.2; display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 0.625em;"><header style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;" class=""><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/barack-obama-fails-trade-deal-trans-pacific-partnership-117865.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(183, 0, 0);" class="">ALSO ON POLITICO</a></div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.25em; margin: 0px; font-family: tablet-gothic-condensed, 'Arial Narrow', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/barack-obama-fails-trade-deal-trans-pacific-partnership-117865.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Obama fails first test on trade</a></h3></header><footer class="meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 0.75em; display: inline;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/Edward-IsaacDovere.html" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 700;" class="">EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE</a></div></footer></div></article></aside><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The enforcement bill is not particularly controversial, but it contains a provision aimed at China and opposed by the White House that would allow duties on goods from countries that undervalue their currency for a trade advantage. Administration officials fear the anti-currency manipulation language would invite retaliation, violate global trade rules and undermine diplomatic efforts to persuade Beijing to move to a more market-oriented exchange rate.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Republicans said it was never their intention to abandon the legislation, but they ultimately reached a deal with Democrats that led to passage of the customs and enforcement bill and a separate trade package for Africa, Haiti and other developing countries earlier Thursday. However, it’s unlikely the currency provision will survive in the final package that goes to Obama for his signature since Republican leaders, including Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, also oppose the measure.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The vote to open debate on the fast-track bill is an early sign of support for the trade legislation, which faces several more obstacles to become law. Those include overcoming another 60-vote hurdle to win Senate passage and an expected close vote in the House, where the majority of Democrats oppose giving Obama the authority to bring the Asia-Pacific trade deal and a sizable number of conservative Republicans could balk at giving their key adversary a major legislative victory.</div><aside class="story-related" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); padding: 0.625em 0px; margin: 0px 789.9375px 1em 0px; overflow: hidden; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><article class="format-sm story-frag" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; width: 1508px; table-layout: fixed;"><figure class="thumb" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; margin: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 5.625em;"><div class="fig-graphic" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/trade-bill-obama-debate-117797.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(10, 124, 196);" class=""><img alt="Rosa DeLauro is pictured." style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; display: block;" apple-inline="yes" id="BE7CE4D3-81E7-4968-8137-FEB266DFE201" height="49" width="90" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:AF1BFCE8-1A56-4CFC-84F5-1A6E9BF3F1C1@hsd1.pa.comcast.net." class=""></a></div></figure><div class="summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1.2; display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 0.625em;"><header style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;" class=""><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/trade-bill-obama-debate-117797.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(183, 0, 0);" class="">ALSO ON POLITICO</a></div><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.25em; margin: 0px; font-family: tablet-gothic-condensed, 'Arial Narrow', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/trade-bill-obama-debate-117797.html?ml=ri" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Trade bill fate in doubt as debate kicks off</a></h3></header><footer class="meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 1;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 0.75em; display: inline;" class=""><a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/LaurenFrench.html" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 700;" class="">LAUREN FRENCH</a>, <a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/BurgessEverett.html" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 700;" class="">BURGESS EVERETT</a> and <a href="http://www.politico.com/reporters/JohnBresnahan.html" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 700;" class="">JOHN BRESNAHAN</a></div></footer></div></article></aside><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Talks on the trade deal are already well into their fifth year, making it one of the longest U.S. trade negotiations in history. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman declared the talks were in the “end game” as long ago as late 2013, but the lack of trade promotion authority has prevented countries from finishing the deal.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Proponents say fast track is needed because it’s too hard for the United States, Japan, Vietnam and other TPP countries to make the final politically difficult concessions to reach an agreement if Congress can change the final deal. But critics say the prohibition against amendments is undemocratic and undermines Congress’ constitutional jurisdiction over trade.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The fast-track legislation also lays down negotiating objectives for the White House to follow in areas ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to labor and the environment. Most of those are in line with what the administration has already pursued with the countries in the trade deal, but opponents question the significance of giving the White House marching orders for an agreement that is almost complete.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Still, the legislation would last for six years and is the first expression of congressional trade priorities since the last fast-track bill was passed in 2002, during the administration of George W. Bush. It addresses a number of new areas like digital trade barriers and competition from foreign state-owned enterprises that weren’t major issues then.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">Obama, or whoever is the next president, could also use the legislation to win approval of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a proposed free trade agreement between the United States and the 28-nation European Union that would be even larger than the TPP pact.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The U.S. and EU hope for a deal before Obama leaves office, but failure to pass fast-track would be a blow for those talks as well as other negotiations, including the 14-year-old Doha round of world trade talks.</div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">Read more: <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/senate-reversal-debate-on-trade-bill-117963.html#ixzz3a9xHTml7" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.25s ease; -webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153);" class="">http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/senate-reversal-debate-on-trade-bill-117963.html#ixzz3a9xHTml7</a></span></div></body></html>