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U.S. fast-track trade bill clears hurdle in Senate

Xinhua, June 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday advanced the Obama administration's trade agenda by agreeing to end debate on fast-track authority in a procedural vote.

The 60-37 vote clears procedure hurdle for the so-called fast- track trade legislation in the 100-member chamber and sets up the measure to pass the Senate by Wednesday.

The U.S. House has already passed the measure. If the Senate approves it, it would then be sent to President Barack Obama for signing.

The fast-track legislation, formally known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), empowers the president to negotiate trade deals and then present them to Congress for up-or-down votes, with no amendments allowed.

If the legislation is passed by the full Congress, it will give U.S. trading partners the confidence they need to put their best offers on the table and help the Obama administration conclude the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks, which are nearing completion after more than five years of negotiations.

After the Senate votes on final passage for the fast-track bill on Wednesday, it will take a procedural vote on a package that includes trade adjustment assistance (TAA), which provides relief for U.S. workers who lose their jobs as a result of U.S. trade deals with other countries.

Republican leaders in both chambers struck a deal last week to move forward the fast-track trade legislation and the TAA measure separately, and were committed to passing both measures.

The White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Tuesday urged Congress to give the fast-track bill final passage and also send the TAA measure to the White House, but declined to say if the president will sign one bill if he does not get the other. Endite