Vietnam Trade Accord Is Ratified, as Fight against Terrorism Sparks an Intensified Push for Presidential 'Fast Track' Trade Negotiation Authority

摘要

"The flag is up and we are all supposed to salute. But they are walking on very thin ice if they think that they can rush this through." Thus spoke Representative Charles Rangel of New York, ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, on Oct. 3, in castigation of U.S. trade representative Robert B. Zoellick and some Republican lawmakers. Re accused them of seeking to use the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States to promote a trade measure that would face heated opposition in normal times.House lawmakers had just announced a remarkable bi-partisan agreement that would give President Bush the authority to negotiate trade accords with only limited Congressional involvement, a tool Mr. Bush had been pursuing since he took office in January. The administration believes that expanded trade negotiating powers -so-called fast track authority - will help it recruit allies for its anti terrorism effort. Mr. Zoellick argued that after the terrorist attacks expanded trade powers are needed to help build the alliance against terrorism. America needs to counter "threats to (its) Security by offering "economic hope" to poor nations he said.