The U.S. is slowly building momentum for two historic trade pacts: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). But without trade promotion authority (TPA) – which grants the president the right to negotiate a non-amendable deal with expedited floor debate – these deals will never pass. So say America’s lead trade negotiators, past and present.
Congress has just introduced legislation granting TPA (or “fast track”) to President Obama, the usual suspects have drawn a line in the sand, creating a tumult surrounding our future trade agenda in the process. Unfortunately, the noise is such that those actually in the room negotiating have gotten lost in the fray.
If Washington would turn to its once and present U.S. Trade Representatives (USTRs), they would recognize that the response is as overwhelming as it is bipartisan: Grant TPA.
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