A deal is a deal is a deal.

Earlier today, I joined almost all of my Democratic colleagues and voted against moving forward with the "fast track" Trade Promotion Authority bill.

Here's why:

As I told you last month, it is critical that any new trade agreements protect American workers, level the playing field, protect human rights, raise labor standards, protect the environment, and defend a free and open internet.

If we're going to strike a trade agreement, it has to be a fair deal for American workers.

To make that happen, I negotiated an agreement with Republicans in the Senate. We agreed to move forward with votes on critical enforcement provisions at the same time as the vote on trade promotion authority. We had a deal.

But today, it became clear that the Republican leadership in the Senate would insist on moving forward on expanding trade without the accompanying enforcement provisions.

Without enforcement, this trade deal is a bad deal for America. Without enforcement, this trade deal would fail to protect our workers against trade cheats. Without enforcement, this trade deal would allow the shameful practices of child labor and slavery to continue unchecked.

As I told my colleagues, if we don't have a deal on enforcement, then we don't have a deal on trade.

No deal means no deal.

I remain committed to expanding trade opportunities for Oregonians and all Americans. But we're going to do it right.

I'll keep you posted.

Ron