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Obama's trade agenda set to face House Democrats' objections

House Republicans pushed trade legislation backed by President Barack Obama toward committee approval on Thursday despite strong objections by Democrats demanding stronger labor and environmental standards as well as a ban on currency manipulation by Asian nations.

 

With the Republicans in the majority, there was no doubt the measure would clear the Ways and Means Committee, just as a nearly-identical measure passed the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday night. Both houses are expected to vote on the measure in the next few weeks as the Obama administration works to complete a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement with 11 other nations.

 

The legislation would let Obama reach trade agreements that Congress could approve or reject, but not change. Previous presidents have enjoyed such power for decades, but the last so-called "fast track" bill expired in 2007, before the current administration took office.

 

Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican chairman of the committee, said the legislation was needed to open overseas markets to American goods and to encourage Japan and other countries involved in the Trans-Pacific talks to be more forthcoming in negotiations.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.23.15, 18:22