White House asks for fast-track authority

“I was glad to hear the president is formally requesting TPA,” said panel ranking member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

“It’s about time. I’ve been calling for this for many months; it’s welcomed news.”

Hatch said the president’s and Froman’s active support would “make a lot of headway with me.” 

So far, there has not been “a deep engagement” Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a former head of USTR, told Froman. 

“We’re ready to engage and work with the committee, and we’d like to get TPA as soon as possible,” Froman responded. 

During his nomination hearing, he told the panel that USTR, Senate Finance and the House Ways and Means Committee would need to work together to determine a format for that engagement and how all parties would get their ideas into the mix and eventually on legislative paper. 

Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has said he would like to introduce a bill this month. 

“We’ll work with you and hopefully get you confirmed right away,” he said.  

Fast-track authority, which expired in 2007, allows for an up-or-down vote in Congress.