Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) vs. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

I have received a lot of questions and phone calls about Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and I wanted to explain the differences between the two and ask for your opinion.

TPP is a trade deal being negotiated in secret by the Obama administration. It’s so secret that if I wanted to read it, I have to go into a secure facility, leaving all electronic devices outside, and I can’t even take notes.

TPA authorizes the president to negotiate trade deals but includes 150 negotiating points that must be included in the final deal and requires the final agreement, once negotiated, be made public for 60 days and then gives Congress, including the House of Representatives, the power to vote up or down on the deal.

Some people argue that TPA gives President Obama more power. I disagree. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is give the President more power. The President is negotiating the TPP now, in secret, with no input from Congress. Under TPA, Congress includes directives to negotiators and requires the deal be made public. That’s less power.

I want to hear your opinion on this issue. Click here and take this quick poll on Trade Promotion Authority. I greatly appreciate your response.