As election season kicks into high gear, one thing is clear:
there will not be any movement on manufacturing legislative
policies on Capitol Hill until the "lame duck" session in
December, if then. On the campaign trail, manufacturing issues,
which are usually framed as economic growth or jobs issues, have to
compete for attention with a host of other topics, including new
military engagements in Iraq and Syria and the Ebola crisis in
Africa.
Regardless of which party wins the Senate majority this
November, there will be at least one piece of the President's
agenda that will continue to move forward away from Capitol Hill:
continued negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Although it is not yet clear whether the current 113th
Congress or the new 114th Congress will be in session
when TPP negotiations reach their peak, one thing is known –
if done poorly, this trade deal could have unfortunate consequences
on American manufacturing.
