"Obama's Base Mobilizes Against President's Free Trade Agenda"

Labor unions and environmentalists say the ultra-secret Trans Pacific Partnership trade treaty could nullify U.S. laws meant to protet Americans. They oppose the administration's bid for "fast-track" authority to present it to Congress on a take-it-or-leave it basis.

"When President Barack Obama outlined the priorities for his final years in office during last week’s State of the Union address, members of his progressive base reacted warmly, for the most part. But when it came to international trade, labor unions, environmental groups and others were left unsatisfied. In the speech, Obama reaffirmed his commitment to passing new free trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — a move long opposed by a substantial portion of his base.

One week later, the White House, Congress and progressive activist groups are preparing to resume a long fight over the TPP — an umbrella treaty between the U.S. and 11 other countries covering everything from regulation, agriculture to intellectual property. While the administration’s U.S. trade representative testified to the Senate Finance Committee in favor of TPP, labor unions and environmentalists made clear they intend to continue lobbying against the deal.

'For us trade is not a matter of numbers,' said Leo Gerard, president of the labor union United Steelworkers, on a Tuesday conference call with reporters. 'It’s a matter of lives, and jobs, and lost opportunity.'"

Ned Resnikoff reports for Aljazeera America January 27, 2015.