また、度重なるオバマ政権の財政政策の失敗により、Food Stamp受給者は4700万人にのぼり、全人口の14%が生活保護という、反日国家韓国に近い状況を呈しています。そのため、米国では借金の上限に迫っており、デフォルト危機を迎えています。このような状況の下で、我が国では殆ど報道されていませんが、やはり、TPAを取らずに勝手に外交交渉進めてきたことに対して、また、TPPの交渉内容を議会に対して公開してこなかった姿勢に対して、民主主義を蹂躙する行為であるとして、議会(Congress)は相当怒っているようです。これは大問題になりそうです

　Congress wants its voice heard as Obama pushes ambitious trade agenda
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/congress-wants-voice-heard-obama-pushes-ambitious-trade-164055140.html

By Jim Abrams, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has embarked on an aggressive
trade agenda that could lower barriers and increase U.S. exports to many of
the economic giants of Asia and Europe. To make that a reality, though, it may
first have to negotiate future trade policy a little closer to home — with Congress.

The administration hopes to complete talks by October on the Trans-Pacific Partnership,
which would reduce duties on a wide range of goods and services in the world's
most vibrant trading area. Eleven countries, including Australia,Peru, Malaysia,
Vietnam, Mexico and Canada, are participating, and Japan has expressed interest
in joining.

※注：「交渉参加表明」とされているが、外交文書としては「交渉参加への関心を
表明した」に過ぎないようです。

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced plans for
a second deal, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which would
link the United States and the European Union, the world's two largest economies.

※ここで、去りゆくUSTRのカーク代表(Ron Kirk)がコメントしています。

Departing U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk added to the agenda in January
when he notified Congress of plans to start negotiations for a new trade agreement
on international trade in services. The talks will include a group of 20 trading
partners representing nearly two-thirds of global trade in services.

Obama has set a goal of doubling exports by the end of next year, after drawing　
criticism from free-trade advocates during his first term for moving too slowly on
trade issues.

"The Obama administration suddenly has this highly ambitious trade agenda that
they've laid out," said John Murphy, vice-president for international affairs at
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Now the challenge is going to be executing."

※以下、TPAの話が出てきます。

First, Obama must nominate a successor to Kirk, who in January announced plans
to step down. Then, he has to work with lawmakers to restore a procedure called
trade promotion authority that is regarded as key to getting trade treaties finalized
and approved by Congress.

TPA, also known as "fast track," has a history going back to the 1930s and was
formalized in a 1974 trade law. Under TPA, Congress and the White House agree
on the objectives of trade negotiations, and Congress affirms that it will vote on
any trade treaty without offering amendments that would force the administration
to go back to the negotiating table.

The last TPA law expired in 2007, and up to now, the Obama White House hasn't
pushed for its renewal. Without TPA on the books, trade partners are reluctant to
sign off on deals that could later be amended.

That could be fatal to some complex trade deals, such as the future talks with
the EU where success hinges on reaching delicate compromises on such issues
as European agriculture subsidies and Europe's restrictions on genetically
engineered crops.

A strong trade agenda, said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the top Republican on the
Senate Finance Committee, requires close co-operation and consultation with
Congress, and "trade promotion authority is the linchpin that brings these
elements together."

※オバマの与党である民主党のメンバーの多くは、TPAに反対しているようです。

Members of Obama's Democratic Party tend to oppose TPA, arguing that trade
pacts negotiated by past administrations have resulted in job losses in America
and given short shrift to environmental and labour and human rights issues.
The last TPA law was passed in 2002 by the slimmest of margins, with House votes
of 215-214 and 215-212.

More than 300 labour and environmental groups, in a letter last week opposing
the Trans-Pacific talks, said no TPA legislation should be considered without
a thorough assessment of how a trade deal will affect job creation, environmental
and labour rights, food sovereignty, access to medicine and other issues.

The administration is coming off a good two years on trade. In 2011, it succeeded
in getting Congress to approve three bilateral free trade agreements with South Korea,
Colombia and Panama and extend a law that helps workers hurt by foreign competition.
Last December, Congress sent the president legislation that removed Cold War
restrictions standing in the way of permanent normal trade relations with Russia.

The three free trade bills, negotiated by the George W. Bush administration and
reworked after Obama took office, were all covered by the TPA law in effect
before 2007.

The administration, in its trade policy agenda report released last week, pledged to
work with Congress on TPA "to facilitate the conclusion, approval and implementation
of market-opening negotiating efforts."

Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., who oversees trade policy as chairman of the House Ways
and Means Committee, said he was disappointed the administration has not engaged
with Congress on TPA and urged Obama to both nominate a qualified trade
representative and immediately begin discussions on renewing the fast track law.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., joined Hatch in a letter to
Kirk that welcomed the US-EU talks and said they "intend to intensify efforts to
ensure prompt consideration and renewal of trade promotion authority."

"It is our hope and expectation that the administration will join us in these efforts,"
they wrote.
.

すごい

ポスト先生同様、この国を引っ張ってくださる方のお一人ですね。