The Trans-Pacific Partnership Treaty (TPP), a proposed trade deal between 12 American and Asian countries, which is of major interest to some sporting goods companies, was at the center of frantic political action in the U.S. last week. On Tuesday, Democrats blocked a bill meant to provide fast-track negotiation powers to U.S. president Barack Obama on the TPP. But the next day, Senate leaders reached an agreement to revive the bill: senators will get to vote on two controversial bills favored by Democrats before moving to a wide-open debate on the fast-track authority. That is now likely to be approved, although the timing remains unclear. Obama picked Nike's head office in Oregon earlier this month for a speech in favor of the TPP, describing it as the most progressive trade deal in history. If ratified, the TPP would cut duties on sneaker imports from countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia (but not including China or Indonesia). Nike's chief executive, Mark Parker, said during Obama's visit that the group will accelerate its efforts to begin advanced manufacturing in the U.S. if the TPP is passed, which could mean 10,000 new jobs over the next decade. The fast-track authority is also relevant to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), another major proposed trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union.

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