Ag-Supported Trade Bill Moves to House

Congress moved a step closer Friday to passing Trade Promotion Authority legislation, which is commonly known as the fast-track bill. The legislation would give Congress the ability to vote for or against—but not amend or filibuster—major international trade agreements negotiated by the White House.

The U.S. Senate passed the bill Friday by a 62 to 37 vote, with support from 14 Democrats and most Republicans.

The House of Representatives is expected to act on the bill in June; passage there is less certain.

Seventy agricultural organizations support the bill and the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade negotiation between the U.S. and 11 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. The fast-track bill is considered a critical first step to successfully negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

A statement from the USDA described the TPP as “a 21st-century trade agreement that will promote job growth, increase farm income, generate greater rural economic activity, and help expand U.S. agricultural exports to some of the fastest growing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.” S