Baldwin Speaks Out Against Granting Obama Trade Authority

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is continuing to speak out against a measure passed by the Senate last month that gives the president fast-track authority to negotiate foreign trade agreements.

Baldwin and all but one of Wisconsin’s Democrats in Congress oppose granting the president trade promotion authority, which would limit the legislature to only an up-or-down vote on trade deals that have been worked out in secret. Speaking to reporters in Madison on Monday, Baldwin said past trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement have led to job losses, and she believes Congress should play a role in hammering out such treaties.

“I don’t think that it’s responsible for a member of Congress to give up their ability to amend or improve a trade deal in the future,” said Baldwin.

The House is expected to vote on the trade promotion authority, also known as “fast track,” this month. That vote will pave the way for approval of a trade deal with Pacific Rim countries. In a rare show of bipartisanship, the lone Wisconsin Democrat supporting the measure — Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse — is working with Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, to round up the 217 votes needed to pass it.

Kind says giving the Obama administration trade authority to negotiate the Pacific Rim deal is important because the president has promised it will include strong labor and environmental protections. But conservative Republicans in the House Freedom caucus still oppose fast track because they believe it would give the president too much power, and they don’t trust Obama to live up to his promises about the deal.