The Obama administration “took an important procedural step toward putting the Trans-Pacific Partnership before Congress” by outlining the legislation that would align U.S. law with the 12-nation free-trade agreement, said Agri-Pulse. The 36-page draft statement of administrative action opens the way for the White House to submit the TPP implementing bill for a vote.
The legislation cannot be submitted until at least 30 days after the release of the draft statement, said Agri-Pulse, adding that the White House has not said when it will release the bill. Farm and business groups believe their best chance for adoption of the TPP is in the final four months of this year, because both leading presidential candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, oppose the pact.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said earlier this month that “we don’t have the votes” to pass the TPP, so there is no point in setting a post-election vote on the matter. During an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, Ryan said some agricultural and labor provisions of the TPP need fixing, said Reuters.