Hopes Dim for US “Fast Track” Renewal in 2013

US officials are becoming increasingly pessimistic over whether they will be able to renew Trade Promotion Authority - a key piece of legislation for authorising trade pacts - before the end of the year, even as trade negotiators race to conclude the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership talks in the weeks ahead.

Trade Promotion Authority, also known as “fast track,” allows the US executive branch to submit negotiated trade deals to Congress for straight up-or-down votes, without amendments. The provision is essential for trade negotiators, as it assures US trading partners that finalised deals will not be unraveled by lawmakers during the ratification process.

Opposition has been building among some US legislators over the past month over whether the provision - which expired in 2007 - should indeed be renewed, with many citing concern that they are not sufficiently involved in the process of crafting international trade deals.