-Caveat Lector-
In case you missed this.
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Clinton looks to Senate to lead way on fast-track
Finance Committee ready to assemble trade agenda; hearings on
international trade to start on Tuesday
BY WILLIAM ROBERTS
JOURNAL OF COMMERCE STAFF
WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration is looking to the Senate
Finance Committee chaired by Sen. Bill Roth, R-Del., to take a
leadership role in crafting a trade agenda for 1999.
With global free-trade talks set to kick off again at a U.S.-hosted
meeting of the World Trade Organization later this year, and after
two-years of partisan bickering here, pressure is intensifying on all
sides to achieve a consensus on U.S. policy.
This week the Senate Finance Committee jumps into the fray with three
days of hearings beginning Tuesday on international trade, featuring
testimony from senior administration official, U.S. business and
industry, labor and environmental groups.
The Senate's willingness to engage in the issues, signaled by Sen. Roth
last year, has drawn a positive response from the administration.
"At this juncture we will work particularly with the Senate Finance
Committee as they put together a bill," U.S. Trade Representative
Charlene Barshefsky said last week when asked by reporters about the
administration's plans for winning renewed trade negotiating authority
this year.
Mr. Clinton's call last week in his State of the Union address for
"common ground" on trade policy has given the Finance Committee's
hearings impetus. Among those scheduled to appear are Treasury Secretary
Bob Rubin, Commerce Secretary Bill Daley, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman
and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner.
The Senate activity is in sharp contrast to the tone of trade politics
in the House, where Ways and Means Committee leaders are not pursuing
talks.
Rather, Rep. Philip Crane, R-Ill., chairman of the Trade Subcommittee,
intends to advance the same, narrow fast-track bill that was defeated in
the House last year. Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the full
Ways and Means Committee, also plans to advance that bill. Both men seem
to want to get the issue off their agenda's quickly.
"Their thinking is they haven't heard anything from the administration
to change their minds. They just want to get it out," one observer said.
Meanwhile, interest is focusing on defining what role the International
Labor Organization could play in setting labor standards for world
trade.
Last year, Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, D-N.Y., attached language to the
Senate's version of the fast-track bill identifying the ILO as a player.
Last year also saw Labor Secretary Alexis Herman travel to Europe to
meet with ILO officials and raise trade issues.
Mr. Clinton mentioned the ILO and banning abusive child labor in his
State of the Union address. Also, Mrs. Barshefsky reiterated
administration interest in drawing the organization into the game.
American big business is willing look at the ILO, too.
"There's a trial balloon being floated here. We would like to know some
more specifics about expanding the role of the ILO," said Willard
Workman, of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"The ILO is not just a forum for the unions and government but business
is represented there, too. We have a seat at the table," he said.
Still unclear is how U.S. labor will come down on the matter.
John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, and other influential union
leaders are believed to be anxious to cut a deal with the administration
soon. The timetable of the United States hosting the WTO ministerial
meetings later this year, and plans for summit meetings on labor and
environment in March, will pressure U.S. unions to articulate a
workable, non-obstructionist policy.
So far, "I think they are viewing the signals from the president as very
positive. They are very clear on what's needed for fast-track to be
done," said one congressional aid.
Labor's position on legislative language will be key, because it sets
the level of Mr. Clinton's forcefulness in lobbying and pushing for
fast-track enactment.
Historically, strong leadership by the president is needed to pass any
such legislation.
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In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational purposes.
/s/ Mike Dolan, Field Director, Global Trade Watch, Public Citizen
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202.546.4996 fax:547.7392
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