Why Do International Trade Plans Remain Uncertain?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 00:45:24 -0400

After talks with President Barack Obama, top Republican leaders in Congress put together a quick rescue plan Tuesday for highly controversial, White House-backed trade legislation that Democrats derailed in the House last week. Congressional officials stressed that no final determination had been made to pursue the rescue plan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement has been made. If pursued, the move to revive the trade measure would bring what is already a highly public split within the Democratic Party into even sharper focus.

"No other country in the world wants to be in the position of negotiating first with the president, and then with a Congress whose behavior can’t be predicted."
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers

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Trade plans remain uncertain as White House tries to revive its agenda

PoliticsTrade plans remain uncertain as White House tries to revive its agendaAfter talks with President Barack Obama, top Republican leaders in Congress put together a quick rescue plan Tuesday for...

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 17 at 2015 1:00 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 01:00:27 -0400

There are controversial sections in this trade plan that cover things like immigration and climate control. If the details got out into the public there would be enough blowback to scuttle the plan.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 1:41 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 01:41:27 -0400

The TPP is in danger because what the President was asking for was authority to negotiate the terms of the treaty and that it would be voted up or down without comment or amendment by Congress. Democrats dislike this because they specifically want to offer amendments to protect their Union allies. Republicans dislike this because they distrust the President to negotiate agreements without review, and do not want to give him an opportunity to have a political success. It is a very broad coalition of no votes, amounting to nearly 3 to 1 against.
TPP may well still happen - they've been working on it for several years. Just under the normal "Advise and Consent" rules for treaties afforded the Senate by the Constitution.