Republican Congressional Leaders Chide Obama Over TPA Commitment
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the top Republican trade official in the Senate tore into President Barack Obama’s commitment to Trade Promotion Authority in recent days, saying he is not doing enough even after delivering a strong message of support for the trade agenda in comments on Dec. 3 (see 1412040025). At a press conference on Dec. 4, Boehner said Obama needs to ramp up efforts to build bipartisan support so TPA can pass the House. “I’ve been trying to do Trade Promotion Authority for three years, but that’s hard to do when the president won’t even stand up and ask it,” said Boehner (here).
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Meanwhile, soon-to-be Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch called Obama’s comments, which included a pledge to pursue TPA and the conclusion on Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, “long overdue” during a speech before the National Foreign Trade Council on Dec. 3. TPA passage will be a central priority for the Finance Committee after the next Congress convenes in January, Hatch said. “I also want to be clear that I will not wait forever for everyone to be satisfied before moving forward, he said in prepared remarks. “Renewing TPA is not easy – no major trade legislation ever is. But that does not mean we should not try. Even though success is not guaranteed we cannot let our fear of failure hold us back.” Hatch also stressed the need to push forward on Generalized System of Preferences and African Growth and Opportunity Act renewals.