Kevin McCarthy Pressured By Republican Conference
“I write to you today to request that you delay any vote on fast-track authority for the Executive until the President has made public all text and information pertaining to the new economic union known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Commission, as well the ‘Living Agreement’ authority,” Hunter wrote to McCarthy, his fellow California Republican. “My concern is that this allows the President and the members of the union to change the agreement and its membership following adoption.”
Hunter’s concern is well founded.
Despite claims from some Obamatrade proponents to the contrary, if Congress approves Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) which would fast-track and all but ensure the approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Pacific Rim trade deal, the “Living Agreement” inside the TPP would allow President Obama and the other TPP nations to add China or any other country for that matter to the deal without seeking approval from Congress.
China, President Obama confirmed last week, has been in talks with top Obama administration officials already and is interested in becoming part of TPP. If the House approves TPA as the Senate did—thereby ensuring that TPP will approved—then that technically means, despite anything proponents of this deal say, it would be empowering China and undermining the United States.