Presdent Barack Obama's proposals to gain &quotfast track&quot negotiating authority had faced opposition in the Senate, with fears that trade liberalisation could hit US manufacturing jobs.

Under a compromise deal, passed late Friday (22 May) by 62 to 37 votes, Obama gains the power to sign trade deals without Congressional approval. Congress would then have 90 days to either approve or reject the deal – but would be unable to amend it.

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The move has been welcomed by US dairy and meat producers, who expect to benefit from the opening of new markets. The National Milk Producers Federation and US Dairy Export Council were among the industry bodies commending passage of the legislation.

&quotTrade promotion authority is crucial to concluding trade agreements that will open foreign markets to more U.S. dairy products,&quot said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. &quotIn the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in particular, having TPA in place is essential to increase pressure on Japan and Canada to extend their best offers.&quot

Pork producer Smithfield Foods said the passage of the TPA has the potential to open &quotkey&quot markets to US pork, such as Japan, Mexico and Vietnam. Smithfield CEO Larry Pope said the bills passage had the potential to create &quotextraordinary&quot opportunities for the meat processor.

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&quotThis is especially important as the US negotiates the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The TPP alone would generate more than 10,000 US jobs in the pork industry and 110,000 total US jobs,&quot he suggested.

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The US National Retail Federation also flagged the job creation potential on offer, suggesting that as many as 7m US restaurant and retail jobs are supported by international trade.

National Retail Federation SVP for government relations David French commented: &quotInternational trade not only benefits American businesses, consumers, families and workers but also makes our economy and industries more efficient and competitive. Trade opens up new markets for American-made products, reduces consumer prices on everyday goods like clothing and shoes, and provides new market opportunities for American companies, retailers and workers."

The TPA will now go before a further vote in the House of Representatives.