The Obama administration wants Congress to vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership before next year’s lame-duck session. Congressional aides are saying the vote is likely to take place during the lame duck session, according to The Hill. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said “the timeline that we envision is shorter than that,” but would not specify when the President would like the vote to occur. Further, Senior Capitol Hill aides in both parties say the vote is not likely until after the 2016 elections. Waiting could allow Congress members to take a tough vote on the free-trade deal without electoral consequences.
The President must notify Congress 90 days before he is allowed to sign the deal and the test must be released 60 days before he signs the agreement. Congress then has 90 legislative days to vote on the agreement after it is introduced. The White House has not decided on when the notification by the President will be made.