A new deal between Republicans who head congressional tax committees and a key Democratic senator Thursday may advance efforts to win approval of a controversial trade agreement called the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

Republican Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Paul Ryan changed the TPA to add provisions intended to protect human rights, make the bill’s contents public, and other concessions in order to win the support of Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate finance committee.

If the TPA is approved, it would mean Congress could vote to approve or reject trade agreements, but could not amend or delay them.  Supporters say preventing a flurry of last-minute amendments can help Washington drive the best possible bargain with trading partners. 

House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, says the TPA is critical to boosting trade and creating more jobs.

But TPA and other proposed trade agreements have critics, including many Democratic members of Congress and most U.S. unions.

The Communications Workers of America denounced the TPA as a secret deal that will boost corporate profits and hurt workers.  The American Federation of Teachers says the bill would fail to help workers and families.  And the head of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, said this and other trade deals will lead to lost jobs and eroded public services.

Trade experts say the TPA is a key step toward winning congressional approval of two other trade agreements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
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