Cargo Business Newswire

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

House votes down presidential "fast-track" authority on trade deals

On Friday (6-12), the House of Representatives voted down a "fast-track" measure that would have given President Obama authority to negotiate global trade deals that Congress would then approve or reject without being allowed to add amendments.

Lawmakers are expected to try to reverse the legislation in the House this week, as many believe such authority is central to improving U.S. trade ties with Asia.

Proponents were relieved when the House narrowly approved a separate measure to give Obama "fast-track" authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. But that legislation is stuck in

the House because of the defeat Obama and House Speaker John Boehner suffered on the first vote.

Both measures are included in one bill and both must be approved before the legislation can clear the House.

A House Republican aide told reporters Republican leaders hope to stage a vote again Tuesday (6-16) to pass the worker aid portion of the bill. That would allow the entire bill to be signed into law by Obama, but its chances were unclear.

For more of the Reuters story: www.reuters.com