Another Setback for TPP, Republicans Say No TPP Without TPA First

Headline

The longer it takes to conclude a pact, the lower the probability that it will ever be concluded

Abstract

Congressional Republican say they will not vote for TPP without Congressional approval of “fast-track” (TPA) first

This effectively precludes any TPP agreement in 2014, despite Obama’s call for agreement by the November 10-11 APEC summit just after the US Congressional elections

Congressional Democrats as well as Republican rank-and-file voters oppose both Fast-Track and TPP

Meanwhile, the Ottawa negotiations produced no breakthrough, and not even a date for the next round of negotiations or for a meeting of Trade Ministers

Japanese sources claim Washington is now stalling because of the US elections

Even if this is just another case of Tokyo wanting to blame Washington via false charges, it does indicate that there is a stall

If no agreement is reached in 2015, it cannot be reached in 2016 when there are elections in both the Us and Japan

The longer it takes to reach agreement, the lower the probability that it will ever be reached