Senators announced a bipartisan deal Thursday to grant President Obama fast-track trade authority, potentially paving the way for a massive free trade agreement with Asian nations and setting up a test of the White House's ability to rally Democrats.
The bill was announced by the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, as well as the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, which combined oversee the country's free trade agreements.
Months in the writing, the agreement would give Mr. Obama the power to negotiate trade deals and then submit them to Congress for an up-or-down vote — a much less messy process than the alternative, which would give Congress the power to rewrite the deals, making it almost impossible to negotiate with other nations.
"Opening foreign markets, where most of the world's consumers reside, is critical to creating new opportunities for middle-class American jobs," said Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, who worked the deal with Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, the Senate chairman, and with Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House committee.
But the absence from the talks of Mr. Ryan's counterpart, Rep. Sander Levin, the ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, underscores the political hurdles the deal will face. Many Democrats argue free trade has been a bad deal for American workers, and Mr. Obama will have to lobby his own party on Capitol Hill for the legislation to have a chance at passage.
Liberal advocacy groups are lining up to oppose it, and to demand their troops in Congress block it — particularly in the Senate, where Democrats maintain the power to filibuster a deal.
"There is simply no excuse for any Democrat who votes for fast track," said Jim Dean, chairman of Democracy for America. "Like a vote for the Iraq War or statements of support for the Social Security-cutting Bowles-Simpson plan, a vote for fast track and the TPP will never be forgotten and will haunt members of Congress for years to come."
Known as Trade Promotion Authority, or "fast-track authority" for short, the bill is critical to having the president be able to complete negotiations on the Asian trade deal, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Fast-track authority could also help the president seal a European trade deal, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which would try to square U.S. and European Union regulatory rules.
Presidents have had fast-track authority for decades, but the power lapsed in 2007. The new bill would grant a three-year authority, with an optional three-year extension, taking it through the next term of the next president.
The issue could prove toxic for Democrats facing competitive primaries in the run-up to the 2016 general election, and is certain to complicate former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
But Republicans, who generally favor free trade, face a rebellion from conservative lawmakers who argue fast-track authority gives the White House — and Mr. Obama in particular — powers over commerce that the Constitution intended to be used by Congress.
Democratic opponents of fast-track hope they can rally enough Republicans for an unholy alliance capable to defeating the bill.
"Both Republicans and Democrats known the TPP is a threat to our constituents, our economy and the checks and balances that make our democracy work, which is why TPA faces such steep bipartisan opposition in Congress," said Reps. Raul M. Grijalva and Keith Ellison, co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
But major business interests are gearing up for the fight as well, promising to bring their vast resources to try to sway the debate in favor of the deal.
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