By Rossella Brevetti The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
Renewal of fast-track trade negotiating authority is "vitally" important to next year's trade expansion agenda, Rep. Phil Crane (R-Ill.) said Sept. 26.
"You can work much more aggressively [in expanding trade] when the administration has fast-track authority," Crane said, in responding to a question on the agenda for 2001. Without fast-track authority, any trade agreements struck by the administration can unravel, he commented.
Crane, who spoke at an event organized by the National Association of Manufacturers, has been a long-time supporter of fast-track renewal.
Crane chairs the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.
Fast-track authority, which expired in 1993, shields legislation implementing trade agreements from congressional amendment once formally introduced. Renewal has been blocked by largely partisan differences between Republicans and Democrats on the role of environmental and labor standards in trade negotiations.
A bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Jordan is likely to come up early in next year's congressional session regardless of who wins the presidential election, Crane said. Agreement to initiate negotiations on a free-trade agreement was announced by U.S. officials following a meeting between President Clinton and King Abdullah on June 6 in Washington, D.C. The pact is still under negotiation.
With Congress having approved permanent normal trade relations for China, the United States should now turn to expanding trade with India, which presents a huge market, Crane commented. He also urged building free-trade relationships with countries in the South Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
Crane also expressed support for hemispheric free trade by 2005. He charged that the concept has languished since the 34 Western hemisphere nations set it as a goal at the 1994 Summit of the Americas.
Copyright c 2000 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Washington D.C.:
