WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) — The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, facing stiff opposition from many Democrats and unexpected resistance from Republicans, is unlikely to be voted on by the U.S. Congress before president Barack Obama leaves office, according to some Republican lawmakers and aides.
A veteran Senate Republican aide, who asked not to be identified, said Republican leaders intend to shelve the deal until after the November 2016 presidential election, which would dash administration hopes of a vote in the first half of next year.
Obama however said he was confident the deal would be ratified.
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Speaking in Manila on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic co-operation summit, he said there wasn’t a modern trade deal that had not seen opposition.
“I’m confident that we’re going to get it done,” he said.
The Republican aide said much of the Senate Republican rank and file “is not supportive of the agreement” negotiated by Obama and 11 other countries that aims to liberalize trade for 40 percent of the world economy.
“I doubt seriously that we’re going to get that resolved by 2016,” Senate finance committee chair Orrin Hatch said.
Hatch previously had said it would be difficult to bring TPP to a vote in Congress during the 2016 election year.
Comments from congressional aides suggested Hatch’s sentiment was widely held.
With few Democrats in the House expected to vote for TPP, Obama has been relying on Republicans, who control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, to provide the votes needed for approval.
On Friday, Obama urged Congress to “move promptly” in early 2016 to approve the trade pact. He also hopes to build momentum at the Manila summit for the TPP, a key plank of the administration’s engagement with Asia.
Hatch has criticized the deal for failing to secure 12 years of protection for some pharmaceuticals, a goal that U.S. officials say was just not possible given staunch opposition from countries like Australia.
