U.S. Pacific Rim Free Trade Agreement Defeated In The House

Washington Post: Obama-backed trade bill fails in the House

President Obama suffered a major defeat to his Pacific Rim free trade initiative Friday as House Democrats helped derail a key presidential priority despite his last-minute, personal plea on Capitol Hill.

The House voted 302 to 126 to sink a measure to grant financial aid to displaced workers, fracturing hopes at the White House that Congress would grant Obama fast-track trade authority to complete an accord with 11 other Pacific Rim nations.

“I will be voting to slow down fast-track,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on the floor moments before the vote, after keeping her intentions private for months. “Today we have an opportunity to slow down. Whatever the deal is with other countries, we want a better deal for American workers.”

The dramatic defeat could sink the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a sweeping free trade and regulatory pact that Obama has called central to his economic agenda at home and his foreign policy strategy in Asia. Obama’s loss came after a months-long lobbying blitz in which the president invested significant personal credibility and political capital.

WNU Editor: It was not even close .... the House voted 302 to 126 to sink a measure to grant financial aid to displaced workers ... a move that assures (for now) no fast track authority for the White House. They are going to try again on Tuesday .... but a 302 to 126 vote is something that is going to be hard to overcome.

More News On The U.S. Pacific Rim Free Trade Agreement Being Defeated In The House of Representatives

House Deals Blow to Obama’s Bid for Trade Deal, Rejects Worker-Aid Program -- WSJ
A slap from fellow Democrats: Obama's trade bill derailed -- AP
House Rejects Trade Bill, Rebuffing Obama's Dramatic Appeal -- NYT
Obama quest for fast-track trade bill defeated for now in House -- Reuters
Democrats reject Obama on trade -- CNN