|
Biden, speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York,
said that the brief "lame duck" session of Congress after the
Nov. 8 presidential election was "our only real shot" for
approving TPP.
The sweeping trade deal has been a central plank in President
Barack Obama's foreign policy shift to counter the rising
economic and military might of China, and has been broadly
supported by U.S. business interests.
But the TPP is opposed by both the Republican and Democratic
presidential candidates, who have blamed trade deals for U.S.
job losses.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has said
the TPP would not get a Senate vote this year, and House of
Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan has said he does not see
enough votes for it to pass.
"Sometimes when there's no election to face and people are
leaving and others who are staying, they may see the wisdom of
TPP," said Biden, who was a long-time Democratic senator,
calling the post-election session "our only real shot" at
passing the deal.
"But it's going to be hard. I think it's less than an even
chance, but there is a genuine chance. It's possible we can get
it passed," Biden said.
(Refiles to show comments made on Wednesday, not Tuesday)
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton, editing by G Crosse)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
