Congress will move as soon as it can in 2016 on considering the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said this week. Ryan expressed optimism about the deal, noting that 40% of global gross domestic product (GDP) is covered by the agreement.

Ryan has been described as an “effective partner” by White House Spokesman Josh Earnest, who also said “We continue to be optimistic that this is something that Congress can and should do in a timely fashion.”

However, many on and off Capitol Hill are skeptical that any final action on TPP will be completed by the end of 2016 and perhaps not until a new president takes office.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., last week said Obama would be making a “big mistake” if he sought a vote on the 12-nation TPP before the 2016 elections.