Trade plans remain uncertain as White House tries to revive its agenda

President Barack Obama and his legislative allies scrambled Monday to try to revive his severely wounded trade agenda, although Democrats and Republicans alike said all options have serious hurdles. Obama’s chief of staff, Denis McDonough, spoke with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader whose rejection of Obama’s pleas on Friday capped the stunning setback delivered mainly by the president’s own party. Labor unions and many liberals say the free-trade deal ships U.S. jobs overseas and rewards nations with weak environmental and workplace standards.

No other country in the world wants to be in the position of negotiating first with the president, and then with a Congress whose behavior can’t be predicted.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers

On Friday, the House voted down Trade Adjustment Assistance, one part of a legislative package that would grant Obama so-called fast-track authority on international trade agreements. The TAA bill would continue a program that helps workers whose jobs have been hurt by international trade agreements. The House is expected to vote on Tuesday on extending the deadline for a revote on the program until the end of July, giving lawmakers more time. The congressional impasse jeopardizes hopes to complete the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that the U.S. and 11 other nations have been negotiating for years.

Politics Trade bill