Kerry downplays key U.S. senator's opposition on trade talks | Reuters
Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's opposition to President Barack Obama's push for authority to fast-track trade deals should not stand in the way of U.S. congressional passage of the measure.
Reid, a Democrat, is the senior member of Obama's party in Congress. On Wednesday, Reid said he was "against fast track" and urged a slow approach to trade negotiations.
"I've heard plenty of statements in the Senate on one day that are categorical, and we've wound up finding accommodation and a way to find our way forward. So this should not be a deterrent, and I hope nobody will let it stand in the way," Kerry added.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama asked for fast-track trade negotiation authority. Legislation before the House of Representatives and Senate would grant the White House power to submit free trade deals to Congress for an up-or-down vote, without amendments.
This authority would allow the Obama administration to speed up the negotiations for two massive free trade pacts that would cover about two-thirds of the world's international trade - a pan-Pacific trading bloc and a U.S. agreement with the European Union.
"I think that everyone would be well-advised just to not push this right now," Reid said on Wednesday.
Kerry on Saturday said that "there's a lot of room here still" despite Reid's comments. Also in Munich, another member of Obama's Cabinet, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, underscored Kerry's comments on trade.
"I would hope that this would get done by the United States Senate. It's clearly in everyone's interest," said Hagel, also a former member of the Senate.
"Let's be smart and let's be wise and let's be collaborative and use all of the opportunities and mechanisms that we have to enhance each other - culturally, trade, commerce, exchanges," the Pentagon chief added.
Fast-track authority is seen as a litmus test of political support for free trade deals, which have been opposed by some of Obama's power bases - unions, environmentalists and consumer groups concerned about lost jobs and weaker labor and pollution restrictions.
Top Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday called on Obama to "get his own party in line" behind the fast-track trade negotiation authority.
House Speaker John Boehner complained about Reid's stance, saying it would hinder passage of a measure that Obama and many Republicans contend would spur exports and job growth.
米で貿易促進権限法案が暗礁に、「身内」が抵抗 ＴＰＰ足引っ張る - MSN産経ニュース
「大統領貿易促進権限（ＴＰＡ）」法案
ＴＰＡは米国が他国と結ぶ通商協定について大統領が議会に修正を許さず、批准に賛成か反対かだけを問える権限。２００７年に失効したが、ＴＰＰ交渉の加速に向け、与野党幹部が１月上旬、ＴＰＡの再導入法案を上下両院に提出した。
ところが、議会の通商政策への影響力低下を恐れ、その翌日に民主党上院トップで与党を率いるリード院内総務が「議会を軽視している」としてＴＰＡに反対を表明。民主党は下院の８割近い議員が昨年１１月にＴＰＡに反対する書簡をオバマ氏に送りつけている。
先月２７日には民主党の支持基盤でもある労組などが連名でＴＰＡに反対する書簡を全議員に送付し、政権への対決姿勢を鮮明にした。今秋に中間選挙を控え、議員の間にはこれまで以上にＴＰＡへの賛成をためらう空気が広がっている。
