Nicole Gaudiano

USA TODAY

Bernie Sanders is readying for battle over an amendment to the Democratic Party platform on trade.

The Vermont senator is a staunch opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed 12-nation trade pact he says would have “disastrous” consequences for U.S. workers and the environment.

Last weekend, Hillary Clinton’s supporters on the platform drafting committee rejected an amendment by one of his supporters to oppose a vote on TPP in Congress, according to his campaign. Now Sanders’ campaign says his supporters will bring up the trade deal again when the full Platform Committee meets in Orlando in early July, and if necessary, at the full convention later next month in Philadelphia.

“During the next days and weeks we will reach out to a large grassroots movement of working people, environmentalists, human rights advocates and religious groups to support an amendment to the platform in strong opposition to the TPP,” Sanders said. “If we succeed, we will be in a very strong position to stop a vote and to fundamentally rewrite our trade agreements in order to end the race to the bottom and to lift up the living standards of people in this country and throughout the world.”

Both Clinton and Sanders opposed TPP during the primary campaign, and a Clinton campaign official said her opposition hasn't changed.

Sanders policy director Warren Gunnels said “there’s no question” pressure from the White House played a role in the amendment’s failure. He said most of those who voted against the amendment did so not because they support TPP but because they didn’t want to embarrass President Obama or deny him flexibility.

The Democratic National Committee, in a news release, says the platform draft strengthens the language on trade. It states that trade deals should not boost corporate profits while failing to protect workers’ rights, labor standards, the environment and public health. And existing deals must be continuously be re-evaluated and enforcement must be tougher, the release states.

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