A bit of a hiccup heading into this weekend’s APEC meeting hosted by Vietnam:

The bill, which would have granted Vietnam ”permanent normal trade relations” with the US, is needed for the country to enjoy the full benefits of its forthcoming membership of the World Trade Organisation. The House of Representatives voted 228 to 161 to pass the bill, but it failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass it under an accelerated process chosen by the Republican leadership of the House.

Susan Schwab, US trade representative, used her opening press conference at the Apec conference in Hanoi on Wednesday to argue that the defeat arose from procedural problems, not deep-seated rejection of trade deals.

“You have to be a student of our congressional system to understand the vote that took place yesterday,” she told reporters. “The fact is that there was strong bipartisan support in favour of permanent normal trade relations for Vietnam in the House of Representatives”.

With many lawmakers yet to return to Washington after the midterm elections last week, the House failed to muster the two-thirds majority required, Ms Schwab said.