Efforts to introduce US trade deals with Europe and Asia have been dealt a blow after a vote in the Senate.
senators rejected a bill that would allow the president to speed trade deals through Congress.
This means that Barack Obama will not be able to fast-track trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
But Democrats objected to their lack of opportunity to debate trade measures.
Only one Democrat backed the bill, in spite of intense lobbying by the White House.