TPP Text Release Delayed, While the Obama Administration Strongly Advocates for the Deal. On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sought to explain the delay around publicly releasing the final text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), attributing it to the Canadian election. Reports around Washington indicate the release of the text is weeks away. At a Thursday press conference, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) called on the White House to “stop selling something [TPP deal] that nobody but them knows about.” Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) praised the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday for issuing new guidelines that allow the Committee Members’ personal staff to access the text of the deal.
Ex-Im Bank Re-Authorization Advances – Senate Seeks Legislative Vehicle. Early this week, th
e House of Representatives passed a measure to reauthorize the US Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank by a vote of 313-118 over the objections of the chamber’s most conservative Republican members. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) blocked the measure from being brought to the floor as a standalone bill this week and instead reiterated the bill will have to be attached to another legislative vehicle expected to advance in the Senate.
Washington Prioritizes TTIP. US Trade Representative Michael Froman confirmed Tuesday at an Atlantic Council event that last month’s conclusion of the TPP deal allows USTR to shift its focus to advancing and accelerating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment (TTIP) negotiations with the European Union. On Tuesday, SPB released a client alert on Washington’s shift to TTIP, available here.
The above is a truncated version of Trade Talk. For access to the complete content, please email TradeTalk@squirepb.com.
