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House and Senate Head in Different Directions Over Trade

© Bryan Johnson

President Clinton's impeachment is not the only issue that seems to be dividing Congress these days. With the impeachment trial of President Clinton dominating much of Congress' time since it convened this month, committees are struggling to begin their legislative work for the session. As such, some committees have begun holding hearings to map out their strategies for the coming months.

In a previous Political Economy featured article, "Murmurings of Fast Track Push Emerge in Congress," , there seems to be agreement between both houses of Congress to seek major trade legislation this year. But now the each house has begun to solidify its plans, the common ground ends there.

In the Senate, members announced a trade agenda that includes a new look at defining America's trade priorities in advance of the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in November, and eventually providing the President with the needed "trade negotiating authority" necessary to achieve these defined priorities. Meanwhile, the House seems interested on having a quick vote just on fast track negotiating authority early in the session.

Thus, like President Clinton's State of the Union Address, the Senate seems to be vying for passing "fast track" later in the session, as part of a larger trade bill, and without specifically calling it "fast track." But the House seems intent on trying to pass a "fast track" bill earlier in the session, while specifically referring to it as a "fast track" bill.

The House Ways and Means may even move to push last year's failed fast track bill within the next few weeks. This is the bill that was defeated in the House in September by a vote of 180 to 243.

But there are other trade differences. The House wants to move fast on the Africa trade bill, And another bill that would lower tariffs on some U.S. imports. While the Senate seems to favor both, neither seems to be a major priority for action, at least not the kind of priority the House is putting on them.

The are other trade priorities such as seeking parity with the North American Free Trade Area for the Caribbean countries as well as renewing the Generalized System of Preferences. It remains unclear just how much agreement exists between the House and Senate on these latter issues.

What is clear, however, is that there are drastically different trade priorities being established within the House and Senate. With such diverging strategies, it is likely that 1999 will be another year where Congress talks a great deal about doing something, but actually ends up doing very little.

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