Administration Threatens Trade Laws

While the U.S. Congress seems poised to move forward with its press for granting President Clinton with fast track trade negotiating authority, the Clinton Administration seems to be fighting the notion altogether.

Last week, Clinton Administration officials warned U.S. industry and agriculture groups that if Congress moves forward with fast track legislation, other trade expanding policies would likely fail. That is because, these officials argue, the fast track legislation may be tied up with legislation opening trade to Africa and Caribbean.

These bills would further liberalize trade between the U.S. and Africa, as well as bring many Caribbean nations into the conditions established by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Many U.S. businesses and farmers want to expand their trade to these regions, especially since many U.S. exports are declining, primarily because of the Asian financial crisis that threatens to spread in to Russia and Latin America.

However, because it is an election year, the Clinton Administration would prefer to wait until after November to push forward any kind of trade legislation. Some political watchers believe that is why Congress wants to consider the trade legislation before the election -- because it would be an embarrassment to many Democratic candidates.

However, several Republican Congressional sources indicate that such a vote could prove to be embarrassing to Republican candidates. Thus, the strategy could actually backfire and work against Republican up for election.

Regardless of the political implications, Congress seems poised to bring the issue up once they return from their recess in September. Meanwhile, the White House continues to preach doom and gloom to many U.S. companies and farmers if the issue is taken up this year.

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