Obama is seeking Trade Promotion Authority, a necessary prelude to gaining congressional support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would reduce barriers between the US and 11 other Pacific Rim countries. Many – but not all – of the Republican candidates back the TPP; the politics on the Democratic side is more hostile to the deal, making it potentially risky for any Democratic candidate to support it.
尽管如此，某些外交政策问题仍将主导两党会谈。比如具有国内国际双重属性的贸易问题。奥巴马正努力签署贸易促进授权法案，目的是减轻美国与其他11个太平洋沿岸国家的贸易壁垒，也就是为跨太平洋伙伴关系赢得议会支持铺平道路。