Obama's Pacific trade pact revived in US House, heads to Senate

The close vote in the House, which last week rejected a related bill, kept alive Obama's goal of bolstering US ties with Asia through a 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the economic element of a foreign policy shift aimed in part at countering the rising influence of China.

The House voted 218-208 to give Obama the fast-track authority to speed trade deals, including the TPP, to conclusion with reduced interference from Congress. The TPP would encompass 40% of the global economy and is close to completion.

But the outlook in the Senate for fast-track, seen by Japan as crucial to sealing the deal on TPP, was uncertain.

Senate aides said support among Democrats hinged on another trade issue, the Export-Import Bank, which may have to close at month's end.

The House's vote was its second in less than a week on fast-track, which would restrict lawmakers to a yes-or-no vote on trade deals. Democrats last week blocked it by voting down a companion measure to extend aid for workers hurt by trade.

That was a slap in the face to Obama, who urged his fellow Democrats to support fast-track and the worker assistance program, despite skepticism among Democrats close to labor unions about the impact of trade deals on US jobs.