However, a sharp disagreement over an unexpected trade product, fresh water catfish, has hurt the negotiations. The farm-raised fish is a local U.S. industry valued at less than $1 billion in yearly production.

The Senate dispute arose when Republican lawmaker John McCain criticized a measure calling for increased U.S. government inspections of Asian catfish. He said some nations involved in TPP negotiations are suspicious of the measure.

“The true purpose of the catfish program is to create a trade barrier to protect a small, handful of catfish farmers in two or three southern states – one of the most brazen and reckless protectionist programs that I have encountered in my time in the U.S. Senate.”