Senate Republicans Tuesday accused Democrats of reneging on deal that would give President Obama "fast track" authority to approve trade pacts.
Senate Finance panel Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Democrats broke an agreement struck in committee that Trade Promotion Authority legislation would move separately from two provisions dealing with trade enforcement and preferences.
"This demand materialized last week and came from the Senate Democratic leadership, virtually all of whom oppose TPA and their president outright," Hatch said, moments after Democrats voted to block the trade bill.
Democrats said Tuesday they opposed the bill because they wanted the legislation to include the two additional provisions. One would add language to curb trade violations, such as currency manipulation. A second provision, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), would extend a law allowing duty-free imports from sub-Saharan nations in Africa.
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