|
 Reid, a Democrat, is the senior member of Obama's party in
Congress. On Wednesday, Reid said he was "against fast track" and
urged a slow approach to trade negotiations.
"Look, I respect Harry Reid. I've worked with him for a long time,
obviously," Kerry, a former U.S. senator, said during remarks at a
security conference in Munich.
"I've heard plenty of statements in the Senate on one day that are
categorical, and we've wound up finding accommodation and a way to
find our way forward. So this should not be a deterrent, and I hope
nobody will let it stand in the way," Kerry added.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama asked for
fast-track trade negotiation authority. Legislation before the House
of Representatives and Senate would grant the White House power to
submit free trade deals to Congress for an up-or-down vote, without
amendments.
This authority would allow the Obama administration to speed up the
negotiations for two massive free trade pacts that would cover about
two-thirds of the world's international trade — a pan-Pacific
trading bloc and a U.S. agreement with the European Union.
"I think that everyone would be well-advised just to not push this
right now," Reid said on Wednesday.
Kerry on Saturday said that "there's a lot of room here still"
despite Reid's comments. Also in Munich, another member of Obama's
Cabinet, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, underscored Kerry's comments
on trade.
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"I would hope that this would get done by the United States Senate.
It's clearly in everyone's interest," said Hagel, also a former
member of the Senate.
"Let's be smart and let's be wise and let's be collaborative and use
all of the opportunities and mechanisms that we have to enhance each
other — culturally, trade, commerce, exchanges," the Pentagon chief
added.
Fast-track authority is seen as a litmus test of political support
for free trade deals, which have been opposed by some of Obama's
power bases — unions, environmentalists and consumer groups
concerned about lost jobs and weaker labor and pollution
restrictions.
Top Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday called
on Obama to "get his own party in line" behind the fast-track trade
negotiation authority.
House Speaker John Boehner complained about Reid's stance, saying it
would hinder passage of a measure that Obama and many Republicans
contend would spur exports and job growth.
(Reporting by Will Dunham; editing by Dan Grebler)
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