One day after the Senate’s motion to invoke cloture on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) failed, Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle said they reached agreement on a plan to consider four trade bills, including TPA. According to a report in Politico Pro, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the Senate will vote Thursday on two separate trade bills and then hold a cloture vote that will allow debate on TPA to begin.

After many hours of discussion with his Democratic counterparts, McConnell agreed to hold votes Thursday morning on two trade bills – a customs and currency bill and the African Growth and Opportunity Act. According to the agreement made by Senate leadership, each of these bills must have a super majority of 60 votes in favor to pass the Senate.

Following those votes, the Senate will move on to a cloture vote to move to debate the TPA bill in conjunction with Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which provides financial aid and training to displaced workers. The procedure to invoke cloture requires the Senate to meet a 60-vote threshold. 

TPA Top Priority for IDFA

“We were disappointed with yesterday’s vote, but we’re hopeful that the deal struck by leadership on Wednesday will garner support from both sides of the aisle to get this legislation done as soon as possible,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. “The U.S. dairy industry in particular has the potential to benefit greatly from two trade agreements currently under negotiation – the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Trade Promotion Authority is critical to securing good outcomes for dairy in both agreements.”

TPA remains a top priority for IDFA, and members are encouraged to continue to put pressure on their members of Congress to pass it.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.