 "US Senate nears deal on Pacific trade pact vote")
Republican and Democratic US Senate leaders are near agreement on a deal to advance President Barack Obama's trade legislation by holding a separate vote on a Bill to prevent currency manipulation, said aides in both parties.
The aides spoke on condition of anonymity a day after a rebellion by Senate Democrats denied Republicans the votes needed to move the legislation to expedite approval of foreign trade agreements. The aides said the new plan has support from members of both parties.
A compromise being brokered between Republicans and Democrats would set up a vote on fast track trade authority with a worker assistance provision, while two other trade bills sought by Democrats, on currency manipulation and African trade benefits, would be considered separately.
House Speaker John Boehner called Tuesday's Democratic revolt a "little bump in the road" and predicted Congress will ultimately have enough votes to pass the measure.
"I'm hopeful the Senate will act soon," Boehner told reporters in Washington on Wednesday. "And when the Senate does, I expect we will act shortly thereafter."
Tuesday's defeat was a temporary setback to the administration's trade agenda and Obama's hopes to close the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership and submit it to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments.
Democrats have been insisting that the Senate package the trade Bill with three other proposals, including one that would let the Commerce Department penalise imports from nations that manipulate their currencies. That Bill would identify China as a currency manipulator, which the Obama administration contends could heighten US-China tensions. Considering the currency measure separately may ease the way to passing the trade Bill Obama wants.
Former US Trade Representative Ron Kirk told Bloomberg reporters and editors in a meeting Wednesday that Democratic opposition to the trade legislation isn't strong enough to prevent it from passing this year. "I think there are enough Democrats who get it, who want to support the president," said Kirk, Obama's first trade ambassador.
Both aides expressed optimism that the Senate has the votes to pass the trade Bill if leaders can agree on a plan. Tuesday's vote to advance the trade measure fell short, 52-45, with 60 needed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats Wednesday to stop blocking the Bill.
"We want to have a serious discussion," said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. "We want to actually get a good policy outcome."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that Democrats were acting out of concern for middle-class Americans. The four Bills were approved by a committee together, and "it's only logical" that they be considered together on the Senate floor, said Reid, a Nevada Democrat. Reid opposes the fast-track trade measure.
The loss was a rebuke for Obama, who in recent weeks has been in meetings, on the telephone and in personal appeals seeking every possible Democratic vote.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, told reporters Wednesday, "I'd like to express my disappointment with the Senate Democrats. They abandoned their president yesterday."
Also on Wednesday, a US official said the Obama administration expects to see additional support in Congress on trade promotion authority legislation as more terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are made final.
The administration is close, and getting closer, to completing the trade deal and will continue to move ahead on the next round of negotiations, which will take place in Guam May 15-24, said the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity citing policy.
US negotiators are working on separate sections to boost environmental protection and aid small- and medium-sized businesses, the official said.
The aides spoke on condition of anonymity a day after a rebellion by Senate Democrats denied Republicans the votes needed to move the legislation to expedite approval of foreign trade agreements. The aides said the new plan has support from members of both parties.
A compromise being brokered between Republicans and Democrats would set up a vote on fast track trade authority with a worker assistance provision, while two other trade bills sought by Democrats, on currency manipulation and African trade benefits, would be considered separately.
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"I'm hopeful the Senate will act soon," Boehner told reporters in Washington on Wednesday. "And when the Senate does, I expect we will act shortly thereafter."
Tuesday's defeat was a temporary setback to the administration's trade agenda and Obama's hopes to close the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership and submit it to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments.
Democrats have been insisting that the Senate package the trade Bill with three other proposals, including one that would let the Commerce Department penalise imports from nations that manipulate their currencies. That Bill would identify China as a currency manipulator, which the Obama administration contends could heighten US-China tensions. Considering the currency measure separately may ease the way to passing the trade Bill Obama wants.
Former US Trade Representative Ron Kirk told Bloomberg reporters and editors in a meeting Wednesday that Democratic opposition to the trade legislation isn't strong enough to prevent it from passing this year. "I think there are enough Democrats who get it, who want to support the president," said Kirk, Obama's first trade ambassador.
Both aides expressed optimism that the Senate has the votes to pass the trade Bill if leaders can agree on a plan. Tuesday's vote to advance the trade measure fell short, 52-45, with 60 needed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats Wednesday to stop blocking the Bill.
"We want to have a serious discussion," said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. "We want to actually get a good policy outcome."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that Democrats were acting out of concern for middle-class Americans. The four Bills were approved by a committee together, and "it's only logical" that they be considered together on the Senate floor, said Reid, a Nevada Democrat. Reid opposes the fast-track trade measure.
The loss was a rebuke for Obama, who in recent weeks has been in meetings, on the telephone and in personal appeals seeking every possible Democratic vote.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, told reporters Wednesday, "I'd like to express my disappointment with the Senate Democrats. They abandoned their president yesterday."
Also on Wednesday, a US official said the Obama administration expects to see additional support in Congress on trade promotion authority legislation as more terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are made final.
The administration is close, and getting closer, to completing the trade deal and will continue to move ahead on the next round of negotiations, which will take place in Guam May 15-24, said the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity citing policy.
US negotiators are working on separate sections to boost environmental protection and aid small- and medium-sized businesses, the official said.