WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama scored a major victory on Friday when the U.S. Senate voted to give him "fast-track" powers that would help wrap up negotiations on a 12-nation Pacific Rim trade deal central to projecting American influence in Asia.
The Senate voted 62-37 to approve the Trade Promotion Authority bill, or fast-track as it is known in Washington. The bill will next be considered by the House of Representatives.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan, David Lawder and Jason Lange; Editing by Eric Beech)