Obama Needs Support Back Home for Trade Deal

The Straits Times

17 November 2014

UNITED States President Barack Obama hit a lot of right notes during his trip to Asia to attend back-to-back summits, but he returns to Washington with major doubts about his rebalancing policy unresolved.

Of particular worry to Asian leaders, say Washington analysts, are ongoing questions about whether he will be able to strike a compromise with the Republican-controlled Congress on areas like free trade.

Said Ms Shihoko Goto, senior associate for North-east Asia at the Wilson Centre in Washington, DC: “While Obama’s profile overseas may have been lifted over the past week, worries about just how the White House may be able to deliver on its international commitments amid a hostile domestic front remain.”

…”I think the successful completion of the TPP, while desirable, is looking increasingly difficult,” said Dr Joseph Liow, the Lee Kuan Yew chair of South-east Asian studies at the Brookings Institution.

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Last updated on 17/11/2014