Reid has plan to break TPA impasse

[Panich52]

Sen. Harry Reid suggests he could drop filibuster. Politico: "[Reid] has already floated a plan to find a way out of the impasse by offering to drop a customs bill, which includes anti-currency manipulation language, from his party's list of demands ... under Democrats' latest strategy, the customs bill would be pulled out of the bigger package for a standalone vote ... senior Republicans said they were skeptical of Reid's overture, but acknowledged talks were ongoing. And they noted there were problems with the customs bill beyond just the currency language."

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/trade-vote-senate-mitch-mcconnell-117850.html?hp=lc2_4


NYT adds:
"The compromise proposed by Mr. Reid and Mr. Schumer could help the president because the currency provisions demanded by Democrats are strongly opposed by Japan and Malaysia, two of the 12 nations trying to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and could be significant enough to stop the larger accord ... Beyond the currency issue, a provision attached to the trade promotion authority bill to block trade preferences to countries involved in human trafficking would effectively exclude Malaysia ... Another provision to crack down on child labor could stop American candy makers from importing cocoa from Africa."

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/business/senate-vote-obama-fast-track-trade-deal.html?referrer=

Sen. Mitch McConnell may schedule another fast track vote this week. HuffPost:
"McConnell spokesman Don Stewart did not pledge that a currency measure would be passed, but he did say it was a matter that could be negotiated ... While Stewart declined to offer a solid prediction about when the fast-track legislation would return, beyond saying it could be this week, he said he expects it eventually will pass."

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7270500