US Congress reaches fiscal deal to avert government shutdown

Washington

US congressional leaders agreed on a fiscal plan that would avert a government shutdown and lift the 40-year-old ban on crude-oil exports, House Speaker Paul Ryan told fellow Republicans during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday night.

Mr Ryan said that the House plans to vote on Thursday on the US$1.1 trillion government spending bill and a separate measure to revive a series of expired tax breaks, according to Representative John Kline of Minnesota.

"Ryan laid out a compelling case to support the deal," which includes lifting the oil-export ban, said Re…