Republican Senator Rob Portman on Wednesday called on Obama to send the US trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama to Congress for a vote before an August break.
But the Obama administration responded on Thursday that it wanted a commitment from congressional leaders that the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which has solid Democratic support, would get a vote when the trade deals are considered.
The Obama administration has hoped to pass all three trade deals before the August break, but the disagreement with Republicans who question the cost and effectiveness of the worker retraining program has complicated that.
Each day that passes make it more unlikely Congress will vote on the deals before they leave for the month. Many business lobbyists already think congressional action is doubtful in the next few weeks.
Portman said he and 11 other Republican senators have signed a letter agreeing to support TAA if it is submitted separately from the South Korea pact.
The Obama administration welcomed their support but said it needed further assurances from congressional leaders.
“What’s needed now is a commitment from leadership in both chambers on the specifics of how they will move the three trade agreements and TAA,” said Carol Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the US Trade Representative’s office.
She said the administration is “in active discussions with those congressional leaders to find a viable path forward, and we are committed to passage of the trade agreements and TAA as soon as possible.”
Portman said the 12 Republicans combined with the 53 Democratic votes in the 100-member Senate would shield the program from Republican efforts to block action on it.
In addition, Republican House Speaker John Boehner has promised a separate vote on TAA even though the majority of House Republicans oppose the program, Portman said.
Portman said the trade deals could be harder to pass after the August break because lawmakers will be concerned with the the fast-approaching 2012 elections.
Portman was US trade representative in the administration of former President George W. Bush and launched negotiations on the South Korea trade pact. The deals with Colombia and Panama also date back to the Bush years.
He said time was of the essence because the United States was already losing sales in South Korea because of a rival EU-South Korean free trade agreement that went into force on July 1.
Another pact between Canada and Colombia that goes into effect in August also threatens US exports, he said.
TAA is a nearly 50-year-old retraining and income assistance program for workers who have lost their job because of foreign competition.
Many Republicans object to a White House plan to include a TAA extension in the implementing legislation for the South Korea agreement, instead of allowing lawmakers a separate vote on the program.
Democrats view TAA as a vital part of the US social safety net and fear the extension will be killed by Senate opponents if not shielded by the South Korean pact.
