Obama Applauds Senate Movement on TPA
President Barack Obama applauded Senate approval to open debate on Trade Promotion Authority in remarks late on May 14. The Senate had voted in favor of the procedural motion just hours before. Trade is the one policy area where Obama has a “significant difference” with progressive Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, he said. “It is my firm belief that, despite the problems of previous trade deals, that we are better off writing high-standard rules with strong, enforceable provisions on things like child labor, or deforestation, or environmental degradation, or wildlife trafficking, or intellectual property -- we are better off writing those rules for what is going to be the largest, fastest-growing market in the world,” said Obama in the remarks.
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Trade Promotion Authority is critical to locking down the Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade supporters and many opponents say. The White House praised TPA and Trade Adjustment Assistance in a May 14 statement. “Enacting TPA will help America take another step toward delivering trade agreements that not only open new markets to ‘Made in America’ goods, but also level the playing field consistent with the Nation’s values and priorities,” said the White House statement. “The administration also looks forward to providing technical assistance as necessary and continuing to work with Congress on successful passage and implementation on this important legislation,” said the statement.