Obama wins key trade victory as Senate approves fast-track legislation

(Image credit: Mark Makela/Getty Images)

published 23 May 2015

President Barack Obama moved one step closer to completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal with 11 other countries, as the Senate voted in favor of fast-track legislation on the deal, on Friday night. The legislation would help Obama move more quickly toward a finalized agreement on the TPP, by letting Congress use quick up-or-down votes, sans amendments, on specific trade deal details.

The bill now moves to the House, where it will likely face tougher passage, and where, The Washington Post notes, it has an unusual, bipartisan proponent: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) who is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and leading Republican support of the legislation.

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Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.