Well, it looks like it's been shot down... for now.

 

This is a very confusing and puzzling issue for me.  I can understand the need to establish trade rules with other countries since that's pretty much the way the world is today.  However, a few things bother me regarding this mess.

 

1.  Why the secrecy?  I can understand keeping things classified when it comes to issues of national security, but I would think that an issue such as trade would be "transparent" as was promised to us by the current regime.

 

2.  One of the key issues, as I understand it is what is known as the "Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)" that would give the President the power to negotiate trade deals that Congress could approve or reject, but not amend.  In my mind, that's a whole lot of power given to the Office of President.  It could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it.

 

3.  Why are republicans so eager to give that kind of power to the current President?

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