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Reports indicate TPA push to start next week
Reports out of Washington indicate that supporters of “fast-track” Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) plan to introduce a TPA bill in the Senate on April 13th, the day lawmakers return from their two-week recess.
The Obama Administration is pushing for TPA, but faces strong opposition from Senators on both sides of the aisle. Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, who supports TPA, says President Obama will have to get more involved in order for fast-track to pass.
“The President is going to have to get on the phone, one-on-one, with reluctant senators if this thing is going to move along,” Grassley says. “I praise the President for having his cabinet (officials) speak out. I praise Secretary Vilsack for speaking out. But the president is going to have to get more personally involved.”
TPA legislation, with its requirement for a straight up or down vote for trade deals, is considered vital for congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement with Japan and 10 other Asia-Pacific countries. Those countries say that, before they put their final TPP offers on the table, they want assurance that U.S. lawmakers won’t be able to tear the agreement apart during congressional debate.
AUDIO: Excerpt from Grassley’s Tuesday morning conference call with ag reporters
TPP fast-track will be the final dagger for small US farmers.