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TPP in limbo in wake of House vote

capitol_domeProspects for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement are uncertain following Friday’s rejection of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) in the House of Representatives.

That vote against TAA prevents Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) from advancing, which in turn could put the TPP negotiations in jeopardy.

It’s anticipated Republicans will call for another vote on TAA, possibly as early as tomorrow (Tuesday).  Kent Bacus, associate director of legislative affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, sees a couple of possible scenarios.

“Friday could have simply been a messaging vote from House Democrats to the President that ‘we oppose your trade policy’,” Bacus says. “However, when they re-vote, they would still have the chance to support Trade Adjustment Assistance.”

The other possibility, Bacus says, is that some Republicans who voted against Trade Adjustment Assistance last week, will change their votes.

“Republicans who have opposed Trade Adjustment Assistance in the past—but they could support it just to spite the House Democrats and have passage of Trade Promotion Authority,” he says.

House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan says he’s confident that the trade package can be salvaged. But President Obama and GOP leaders will need to switch about 90 votes to approve Trade Adjustment Assistance.

AUDIO: Kent Bacus

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