Trade Pacts Face Growing Pushback

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/trade-pacts-face-growing-pushback-20150607-00035

By Dow Jones Business News, June 07, 2015, 07:57:00 PM EDT

By Bob Davis, Siobhan Hughes and Dante Chinni

The decades-old argument that major trade agreements boost both exports and jobs at home is losing its political punch, even in some of the country's most export-heavy congressional districts.

In the 10 districts with the biggest export growth since 2006, only three of the representatives say they back legislation to help President Barack Obama wrap up a major Pacific trade deal. Two of the eight Democrats said they support the measure, known as trade promotion authority or fast track, as has one of the two Republicans.


House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), whose wealthy, tech-dependent San Francisco district ranks in the top 5% in export growth, though isn't among the 10 with the biggest increase, said she hasn't decided whether to back the bill.

With Congress set to resume the battle this week over the Pacific trade pact, tepid support among lawmakers from export-heavy districts shows the struggle the White House faces in corralling a majority vote in the House on fast track, a procedural measure in which lawmakers agree to vote yes or no on trade deals but not amend them. Just 17 House Democrats are on record backing the legislation, which would help Mr. Obama cement the deal.

FULL story at link.