U.S. lawmaker optimistic on fast track trade bill vote

A key U.S. lawmaker said on Thursday he is optimistic Congress will pass legislation key to a Pacific trade pact and said he is open to considering stronger rules against currency manipulation in a separate bill. The Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Paul Ryan, said he thought Republicans were in a "very good place" on a bill granting the White House authority to seal trade deals and submit them to Congress for a yes-or-no vote, without amendments.