Wait!! How can that be? It “has not been negociated yet”!! What is this ? some kind of scam?
TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) is the linked bill. TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) is what’s still being negotiated. Two different things.
TPA is a means to circumvent the US Constitution.
The US Constitution is very clear on how agreements with foreign nations should be conducted.
You see, under that pesky, old US Constitution, treaties could be debated, amended and required a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate.
Well, that was just too difficult.
You see, because trade deals are so lucrative, our Congress has decided to re-define trade deals as separate from treaties.
In this way, they can set their own rules for how trade deals are approved.
Fast Track is nothing new. It has been around for a while. But it is never the same each time it comes up for re-authorization.
This time, Fast Track (known as TPA) contains all sorts of extra powers transferred from the Legislative branch to the Executive branch that were not contained in previous versions.
This new version of Fast Track makes it more difficult to reject a trade agreement than to approve a trade agreement.
Let that sink in.
When have you heard of legislation that makes it more difficult to say “no”?
Remember, the Constitution says agreements with other nations should meet a very high threshold before approved.
TPA makes approving trade deals a 51 vote simple majority.
But...TPA makes REJECTING trade deals to require a 60 vote majority.
If a trade deal gets less than 51 votes, but more than 40, it is still alive and can be voted upon again and again and again.
Now, remember, these trade deals are very lucrative....worth billions.
The people who will know the details are the executive and legislative staffers, congressmen, cabinet members, etc. who were involved. Many will get high-paying jobs to help companies navigate the new trade deal.
TPA is nothing more than a means for the ruling class to enrich themselves.
TPA offers no protections for US citizens.
Many Republicans support Fast Track because free trade is good.
I agree that free trade is a good idea.....but it must be done right.
Previous versions of Fast Track, and especially this version, the TPA, create no incentive to do trade deals right.