Congress Passes Companion Trade Package Following Senate TPA Approval

House lawmakers delivered President Barack Obama a trade adjustment assistance (TAA) bill as part of a larger trade package Thursday, a day after the Senate passed trade promotion authority (TPA) (see 1506240045). Obama and White House officials have repeatedly urged lawmakers to pass trade adjustment assistance alongside TPA. “This week's votes represent a much-needed win for hardworking American families,” said Obama. “I look forward to signing these bipartisan bills.” The Senate merged the two bills together when they hit the Senate floor in May, but the House maneuvered to divide the them for separate votes. The June 25 House vote capped months of intense Capitol Hill wrangling on trade. Many trade supporters expect the U.S. to now step up focus on closing Trans-Pacific Partnership talks. Obama didn’t mention the 12-nation pact directly, but said TPA will help the U.S. “write the rules of our global economy.” TAA passed as part of a package that included renewals for the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Generalized System of Preferences. Lawmakers now are likely to head to conference over Customs Reauthorization, but that bill is now legislatively disconnected from TPA and the trade package.