The Senate Thursday passed a trade enforcement bill with an overwhelming vote, despite objections from House and Senate Republican leaders who say it will thwart future trade deals.
Lawmakers voted 78-20 to pass legislation that would identify currency manipulators and enforce other trade-pact regulations against illegal dumping, child labor and food safety.
President Obama opposes the measure, as does Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
“What we are going to do today is essentially start with the question of how vigorous trade enforcement ought to be,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a Democratic co-author of the deal.
The vote sends a strong signal of dissatisfaction with Trade Promotion Authority legislation that would give President Obama expedited powers to sign off on trade pacts, including a deal with 11 Pacific Rim nations.
Lawmakers who oppose TPA say trade deals have hurt the U.S. economy partly due to currency manipulation that has not been curbed.
Lawmakers also voted to approve a second provision extending a preferential trade relationship with sub-Saharan nations.
Votes on the two bills were part of a bipartisan deal between Democrats and Republicans.
The Senate is now debating the Trade Promotion Authority bill.
