U.S. Trade Measures Debated Before Congress

WASHINGTON — The heads of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO squared off over the pros and cons of U.S. trade measures pending before Congress at a Senate hearing Tuesday, setting the stage for contentious trade battles on Capitol Hill. The Senate Finance Committee hearing came at a critical junction on trade as both that panel and the House Committee on Ways and Means prepared to mark up and vote on several trade bills this week. The centerpiece legislation under consideration is presidential Trade Promotion Authority, formerly known as fast track, 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. Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, told senators they would be giving up their leverage on shaping trade deals, especially the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement between the U.S. and 11 countries, if they approve TPA. “The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement being negotiated by our government includes 12 countries and about 40 percent of the world’s GDP [gross domestic product],” Trumka said. “The TPP is designed to be infinitely expandable so it could very well be the last trade agreement that we negotiate and it is

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