The Senate has rejected a measure to give President Obama fast-track authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. On Tuesday, the Senate fell eight votes shy of the 60 needed to advance it. Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley said the TPP would hurt workers.

Sen. Jeff Merkley: “Why would you pave a path to put the workers in your state directly in competition with workers earning 60 cents an hour. Tell me that that’s advantageous to making things in your nation, and I will tell you, you are wrong.”

The failure to win the necessary votes came after pro-trade Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, insisted that fast track be bundled together with three other trade bills. It’s seen as a major setback for the White House, which has pushed back against progressive critics of the TPP in recent days.