The Obama Administration is pushing passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership during the lame duck session of Congress. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has stated the votes are there on both sides of the isle for passage resulting from the resolutions of various contentious issues. USTR Chief Ag Negotiator Ambassador Darci Vetter says a vote after the election starts with the Administration sending an implementing bill to Congress.

Both presidential candidates have stated they oppose TPP. However, Vetter says if the deal does not pass in the lame duck it will be difficult to renegotiate. She admits bi-laterals have been reworked in the past, but says it’s harder to do with 12 other nations.

Vetter says if the U.S. does not pass TPP the agreement will go forward without the U.S. and the market access, tariff reductions and other benefits will be lost.

Ambassador Vetter also says if TPP passes in Congress and is signed by President Obama the new president would have a very difficult time changing the trade agreement. However, they could have a big role in its implementation and enforcement.