Senate Committee Passes TPA

WASHINGTON — The Senate Finance Committee passed presidential Trade Promotion Authority and several other trade measures Wednesday night, overcoming several obstacles and advancing a cornerstone of President Obama’s trade agenda. The House Ways and Means Committee is set to mark up and vote on the package of trade bills today. The centerpiece of the trade measures approved late Wednesday by the Senate panel was TPA, which allows Congress to set negotiating objectives and consultation requirements for the executive branch, but also limits Congress to an up or down vote on trade deals. Its passage by a large margin, on a vote of 20 to 6, in committee was significant in light of rancor within the Democratic ranks over Obama’s push for the authority, which is seen as a linchpin to securing the largest regional trade deal the U.S. has ever negotiated with 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. The bill will next move to the Senate for a full vote, where a tough battle still awaits it. “By acting to further break down barriers for American exports, we successfully advanced a strong trade agenda that will help move America forward,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), chairman of the committee. “These

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