July 6, 2015

Opponents could still thwart looming trade deal

Now that Congress has approved Trade Promotion Authority legislation giving President Obama the power to negotiate trade agreements that can't be amended by Congress, a new pact between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim nations is expected to be completed in the coming months.

But path for the Trans-Pacific Partnership to become law could be just as bumpy as passing the trade promotion bill, thanks to a looming election year and opponents in Congress who aren't ready to abandon the fight against new trade deals that they believe will damage the American economy.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who led her caucus in an effort to sink the trade promotion deal, sent a signal in June that she's not done fighting and will not endorse a Pacific Rim trade pact that doesn't include certain provisions concerning worker rights and environmental protections.

"I think that the more public support we have for our position, and the leverage we will have, we will be taking it to the public," Pelosi said when asked about the looming deal.

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