When the Senate passed the trade bill, I noticed this on a number of news sites:
“The legislation would give Congress the ability to vote for or against — but not amend or filibuster — major international trade agreements negotiated by the White House. It’s known as “fast track” authority because it is designed to speed up and boost the likelihood of the U.S. approving free trade agreements. The pending 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership isn’t expected to be sealed until and if Congress clears the fast-track bill.”
Note the “designed to speed up and boost the likelihood of the U.S. approving free trade agreements.” This TPA is a smoke and mirrors device used to get around the two-thirds vote requirement to pass a treaty, which is what the trade bills are. I talked with a senator’s aide and he slipped and called the bill a treaty. Do you honestly believe the Senate would joyfully approve TPA if they did not have in mind passing the whole deal? To grant their prince Obama fast track authority and then deny his use of it? When have Republicans denied Obama anything he wanted since they took control of Congress?
No argument that fast-track makes it much easier to pass trade deals. I think the conventional wisdom is that it would be impossible to pass a trade deal without it. Personally, I think some trade deals are good and necessary, although I haven't seen the TPP yet.
My point is that there's nothing unique about how TPP is being handled. Every modern trade deal has been done using this process. If you're against all trade deals, fine, but don't think the TPP's getting any special treatment.