Although it ultimately amounted to little more than political posturing, last week’s congressional wrangling over Trade Promotion Authority for President Barack Obama provided an interesting lesson in the ways of politics.
On Tuesday, Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray joined their fellow Democrats in blocking a vote on Trade Promotion Authority. Such authority would allow the administration to finalize trade agreements and send them to Congress for a simple up or down vote — with no amendments being tacked on. This is related to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal that would create tariff-free trade avenues between the United States and 12 other Pacific Rim countries, not including China. The deal has been in the works for the better part of a decade, and it reportedly includes provisions dealing with environmental regulations and workers’ rights and intellectual property protections.
We say “reportedly” because many of the details remain unknown except to those who have been at the negotiating table. That is part of what led to Senate Democrats momentarily rebuking the president in his request for Trade Promotion Authority. As if the situation were not confusing enough, the vote led to the awkwardness of congressional Republicans and big business siding with Obama while Democrats and many labor organizations opposed him. Something about strange bedfellows and all that.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who is leading the populist battle against the trade agreement, said: “We can’t keep pushing through trade deals that benefit multinational companies at the expense of workers. Government cannot continue to be the captive of the rich and powerful. Working people cannot be forced to give up more and more as they get squeezed harder and harder.” On the other hand, we cannot expect a 20th century model for international trade to remain effective in the 21st century. Warren’s assertions point out the importance of Congress fully vetting the trade agreement, but first it must have an agreement to vet; the deal must be finalized before Congress can give an up or down vote.