Republicans Support Obama's Fast-Track Authority For Asian Trade Deal

03:54

April 17, 2015

U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (third from right) talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (third from right) on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other issues at the start of talks at the latter's official residence in Tokyo in Tokyo on February 19, 2015. (Kimimasa Mayama/AFP/Getty Images)

Congress has agreed to give the president the leeway he needs to complete a massive 12-nation trade deal with Asia. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be the biggest trade pact since NAFTA was signed in the 1990s.

Republicans say they'll give President Obama fast-track authority to finish negotiations. That means Congress gets a vote on the final measure, but has no authority to make changes to the deal.

The support from Republicans puts the president in an awkward situation. Many Democrats say the deal would hurt American workers. Mike Regan of Bloomberg News joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson with details.

Guest

Mike Regan, editor for Bloomberg News. He tweets @Reganonymous.

This segment aired on April 17, 2015.

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