Trans-Pacific trade deal under fire in Washington

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is being negotiated by 12 Asian and Pacific countries. The introduction of a US bill, on 16 April, giving President Barack Obama the authority to send Congress trade agreements for a simple up or down vote moves both the TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) a step closer to being realised. At a press conference with Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, on 17 April, Obama said if Congress passed the bill, TPP would…