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Obama executive actions put Asia free trade deal at risk

President Obamas increasing use of executive power could backfire in the new Congress as he seeks to persuade lawmakers to grant him special authority to negotiate his long-sought, mammoth free trade agreement with Pacific Rim nations.

Republican lawmakers have been more inclined than Democrats to give the president trade promotion authority, which would boost his chances of completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, centerpiece of his effort to focus U.S. policy on Asia.

But conservatives increasingly are balking at the idea of granting Mr. Obama any powers given his far-reaching executive actions, which included granting deportation amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba after the midterm elections.

SEE ALSO: Obama urges big labor to accept free-trade deal with Asia

An increasing number of members see [trade promotion authority] as a way of giving more power to President Obama, and therefore the whole debate will be longer, said Anthony Kim, a specialist on free trade and economics at the conservative Heritage Foundation. After the November election, we knew that President Obama had limited political capital to spend. He basically wasted that.

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly has joined forces with Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips and former GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes, trying to persuade Republican lawmakers to oppose giving Mr. Obama the fast track authority.

Mrs. Schlafly has said it would be insane for Republicans to grant him the power after they complained loudly about the presidents expanding use of executive actions.

Fast-track authority essentially gives the president the power to negotiate agreements as he sees fit, and it assures foreign governments that Congress wont alter the terms of the deal after the agreement is signed.

The proposed trade deal has stood out as one of the best chances for Mr. Obama to work with the Republican-led Congress. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, who is in line to become chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has said the fast-track legislation would be a top priority.

The presidents director of the National Economic Council, Jeffrey Zients, said White House officials are still hopeful that Congress will advance trade promotion authority soon after it convenes this month. He said the administration has held nearly 1,500 meetings on Capitol Hill to pave the way for the TPP.

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Obama executive actions put Asia free trade deal at risk

January 3rd, 2015

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Obama imposes new sanctions on North Korea in response to Sony attack

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday in response to a cyberattack against Sony Pictures.

The FBI has blamed North Korea for a cyberattack against Sony in reprisal for the movie The Interview, which is about a plan to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Obama's executive order called North Korea's actions "provocative, destabilizing and repressive." He said the attack constitutes a human rights abuse and is a threat to national security.

The order details tightened restrictions against three North Korean entities: Reconnaissance General Bureau, an intelligence agency involved in arms trade and cyber operations in North Korea; Korea Mining Development Trading Corp., a state-owned entity also involved in arms trade and had been previously sanctioned by the United States for its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and Korea Tangun Trading Corp., which is involved in "the procurement of commodities and technologies to support North Korea's defense research," a news release from the Department of Treasury said.

Ten individuals were also singled out in the order "for their status as officials of the North Korean government," the release said.

"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," a statement from White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said."As the president has said, our response to North Korea's attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing. Today's actions are the first aspect of our response."

North Korea was already under sanctions by the U.S. government for its nuclear program.

The cyberattack resulted in the release of damaging private emails from Sony Pictures Chairwoman Amy Pascal and the cancellation of the release of The Interview after major theater chains refused to screen the film.

Sony eventually allowed the comedy, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, to be screened after several smaller, independent movie chains offered to show it. It was also released online.

North Korea has denied involvement in the Sony hacking case.

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Obama imposes new sanctions on North Korea in response to Sony attack

January 3rd, 2015

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