Trade Bill Clears Senate Hurdle, at Brink of Final Passage

The Senate pushed bipartisan trade legislation to the brink of final approval on Tuesday.
Trade Bill Clears Senate Hurdle, at Brink of Final Passage
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WASHINGTON—The Senate pushed bipartisan trade legislation to the brink of final approval Tuesday in a combined effort by President Barack Obama and Republican congressional leaders to rescue a measure that appeared all but dead less than two weeks ago.

The legislation cleared a key hurdle on a 60–37 vote, precisely the number needed.

A final vote is expected by Wednesday on the House-passed measure, which would then go to the White House for Obama’s signature.

It is one of several measures constituting Obama’s second-term trade agenda as the administration works to finalize a 12-nation agreement among countries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.