The Senate is balking at President Barrack Obama’s request
for fast-track status for the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
"I'm against fast track," Senate Speaker Harry
Reid, who controls the floor schedule in the chamber, said this week.
"Everyone knows how I feel about this... And I think
everyone would be well advised just to not push this right now."
Reid and Obama are normally allies because both are
Democrats.
This glitch will, no doubt, be welcomed by Canada’s
quota-holding dairy and poultry farmers, but be worrisome for Canada’s grain
and meat exporters.
Fast-track status means the Senate would either have to
approve or defeat whatever deal is negotiated as a complete package. Without
fast-track status, Senators could cherry-pick the deal to vote for or against
specific details.
Most trading partners will refuse to negotiate with the
U.S. if it’s not being done under fast-track status.
