Brussels, 15/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The draft law aiming to grant increased powers to US President Barack Obama in order to negotiate the free trade agreements with the EU (TTIP) and with 11 countries from the Asia-Pacific region (TPP) as part of the so-called Fast Track procedure was not adopted on Friday 12 June, after massive rejection of the second section of the draft law concerning a programme to help US workers affected by global competition.
While they voted by a thin majority (219 votes in favour, 211 against) in favour of the first section of the draft (which would enable the US president to negotiate a free trade agreement and ask Congress to vote for or against the agreement as a block, without the possibility for amendment), Congress representatives massively rejected (302 votes against, 126 for) the second section of the draft law (Trade adjustment assistance - a programme to help Americans who lose their job as a result of the free trade agreements). The two sections of the draft law could not be separated and the rejection of the second section therefore blocked adoption of the whole law - although a new vote is expected to be organised for 16 June.
Following their leader in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, 144 Democrats voted against the second section of the Fast Track draft - their votes being added to those of 158 Republicans. The setback is all the more bitter for Obama as he had made a rare visit to Congress on Friday morning to convince reluctant Congressmen to approve the procedure that would rule out any risk of obstruction or stalemate to the Washington-led free trade negotiations. There will be an opportunity to save the Fast Track procedure on Tuesday, with a new vote on the Congress agenda. If the terms of the adjustment programme are improved, Democrats could agree to rally to it.
If the Fast Track procedure is adopted, it will expire in July 2018 (beyond Obama's mandate, which expires in January 2017), with the possibility for a three-year renewal. (Emmanuel Hagry)