Legislation vital to securing the largest US trade deal in decades was passed by the Senate on June 24 by a comfortable margin, advancing President Barack Obama's efforts to strengthen US economic ties around the Pacific Rim.
US President Barack Obama speaks about gun violence during an address to the United States Conference of Mayors in San Francisco June 19, 2015. (Credit: REUTERS)
After a six-week congressional battle including two brushes with failure, some fancy legislative footwork and myriad backroom deals to keep the legislation alive, the Senate voted 60 to 38 to grant Obama "fast-track" power to negotiate trade deals and speed them through Congress.
The bill next goes to the president for his signature.
That could propel the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a central element of Obama's foreign policy pivot to Asia, over the finish line, while also boosting hopes for completing an ambitious trade deal with the European Union.
(Source: REUTERS)