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The U.S. Senate has taken up consideration of fast track following the House of Representatives approval of the measure last week. A vote is not expected until next year. If the Senate votes in favor of what the President calls trade promotion authorityand observers think it is likelyit will be the first time a U.S. president has had the ability the negotiate trade agreements with other countries without allowing Congress to amend them since 1994. Fast track barely squeaked past the House of Representatives on December 6, removing one legislative barrier to President Bushs enhanced ability to negotiate international trade agreements even if they include no enforcement of worker rights. The IBEW and its allies in Congress are fighting fast track because it forces Americas workers to compete with exploited workers in developing countries who earn a only few dollars a day. The Economic Policy Institute estimates the United States has lost three million jobs between 1994 and 2000 because of the trade imbalance. Statistics reported late last year show unemployment at 5.7 percent, its highest level in six years. A strong majority of the American people oppose fast track legislation and they will hold lawmakers who voted against their interests responsible, said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. Despite last-minute compromises to secure votes of wavering Democrats before the House vote, neither the President nor House Republican leaders would agree to require trade agreements to include labor and environmental standards as well as tariff and quota levels. President Bush has been angling for more trade negotiating authority to broaden NAFTA to include Central and South America with the Free Trade Area of the Americas. The White House abandoned an effort last summer to win fast track when it became apparent there was not enough support on Capitol Hill. The IBEW and other concerned groups succeeded in defeating fast track approval in 1994. As long as fast track represents a shortcut for the President to negotiate international agreements without enforceable standards of worker rights and environmental protection, we will stand opposed to it, said IBEW President Edwin D. Hill.
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House Passes Fast Track by One VoteAFL-CIO Global Economy |
