Sen. Rob Portman said Thursday that he could not support the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed 12-nation trade deal, “in its present form.” The announcement by the former U.S. trade representative was a blow, though not necessarily a fatal one, to the deal set to go before Congress later this year.
The Ohio Republican said that TPP, which would lower tariffs and ease trade among the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada and eight other Pacific Rim nations, would not sufficiently protect U.S. workers and industries. The proposed deal, which excludes China, would account for an estimated 40 percent of the world’s economy.
“From currency manipulation, to rules of origin for automobiles, to protection for U.S. biologics — we can do better. And we need to do better for the sake of American workers who are depending on the administration to give them a level playing field,” he said.
The announcement comes the day after the 12 nations engaged in a signing ceremony for the deal in Auckland, New Zealand, meant to show their commitment to it.
“Partnership would give the United States an advantage over other leading economies, namely China,” President Obama said Wednesday.
The Senate must approve the deal for the U.S. to be formally included, and the pact has proven controversial for an election year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said that a vote would wait until after the November election.
That would leave a little more than a month before the Senate called it quits for the year. If the deal is not approved by then, it would effectively die and the next administration would have to start over with the next Congress.
Lawmakers are still expected to pass the deal. While most Democrats are opposed, Obama is pushing hard for it and most Republicans are expected to support it. The deal cannot be filibustered.
