On Capitol Hill, Democrats in the House of Representatives have struck down a key piece of Pacific Rim trade legislation heavily promoted by the Obama Administration.
Despite a last minute personal appeal by the President, the House voted 302 to 126 against the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill.
The assistance bill is linked to another signature piece of trade legislation for the President - the Trade Promotion Authority; that bill did reach a majority of votes, but without congressional approval of its fellow Trade Adjustment Assistance bill, it cannot be signed into law by Mr. Obama.
Although the move is widely seen as a major defeat to the Obama Administration, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest characterized the situation as a "procedural snafu" and expressed optimism that both pieces of trade legislation will be passed.
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In an unusual move, Republican House speaker John Boehner supports this trade bill, unlike his Democratic counterpart Nancy Pelosi.
White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest said the House vote was a bipartisan triumph.
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