Colombia trade fight could cripple U.S. fast track

Colombia trade fight could cripple U.S. fast track
Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:20pm EST
By Doug Palmer - Analysis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A brewing battle between the White House and Congress over a trade pact with Colombia could cripple the "fast track" process that Republican and Democratic presidents have used for over 30 years to approve trade deals.

Although the U.S. Constitution gives Congress jurisdiction over trade, lawmakers have traditionally delegated authority to negotiate deals to the White House.

To assure foreign governments that Congress would act on those agreements in a timely manner, policymakers devised a legislative procedure in 1974 that came to be known as fast-track or, more recently, "trade promotion authority."

Former President Bill Clinton relied on fast track to win approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement in November 1993 and the Uruguay Round world trade agreement a year later.

Now with the Doha round of world trade talks edging toward a possible conclusion, the fight between the White House and Democratic-controlled Congress over the Colombia deal threatens to unravel the inner workings of fast track.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSN1834162020080118