U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered one of his top negotiators to reassure Asian trading partners his free trade deal isn't dead.
Trade representative Mike Froman started calling his counterparts after Democrats in the House of Representatives blocked a package of trade bills on Friday.
The trade-aid bills are key to concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership- which President Obama sees as critical to his trade agenda.
But US Democrats voted down a program to aid workers who lose their jobs as a result of the free trade deal- forcing a possible re-vote on Tuesday.
Without congressional support, President Obama cannot 'fast-track' trade negotiations.
White House spokesperson Josh Ernest:
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While no-one is declaring the Obama administration's trade agenda as dead (yet) top Democrats are still threatening to derail a possible do-over vote in the House on Tuesday- including presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
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