Florida splits on new trade proposal

Business leaders rally support; some Democrats remain wary

WASHINGTON — While Florida business leaders are rallying support for an emerging trade deal with Japan and 10 other nations, many of their representatives in Congress plan to vote against attempts to speed approval of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Trade promoters say the pact will help Florida sell its goods in Asia and along the Pacific Coast of South America, from grapefruit craved in Japan to high-tech services needed in Chile. Aviation officials say unfettered trade also means more air cargo, which would boost Florida airports and the state economy.

“We had a tough year in 2014, because, quite frankly, the Western Hemisphere market and the European market were both in the toilet,” said Manny Mencia, senior vice president of Enterprise Florida, which promotes international trade. “So these other markets in Asia are extremely interesting to us.”

“A well-negotiated trade agreement increases jobs, prosperity, choices and the purchasing power of the consumer,” he said. “Overall, it will be a beneficial deal for Florida. It will open new markets for us that we are in dire need to open.”

But labor unions and most Florida Democrats in Congress are wary of trade deals for fear they allow businesses to exploit cheap labor and low environmental standards abroad, prompting them to export jobs to other nations.

“We’ve been burned in the past on trade deals where people were promised one thing and got something else,” said U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, DBoca Raton. “What they were left with was the transfer of American jobs overseas.”

The result is a growing confrontation between President Barack Obama and some of his strongest allies in Congress, even from South Florida, in a state where international business supports an estimated 2.4 million jobs.

At issue is whether Congress should give the president “trade promotion authority” — often called “fast track” — to help him complete a trade deal with 11 Pacific nations and hasten its final approval on Capitol Hill. It would also help him complete a separate trade deal with Europe.

The Senate is expected to vote on fast track the next few weeks, with the House to follow.

Fast-track authority would strengthen Obama’s hand during final negotiations and set up a yes-orno vote in Congress on the entire trade deal, with no chance to amend it. Fast track has been used by past presidents, including Bill Clinton to complete

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