US Senate brings back fast track trade bill

22 July 1998

US Senate brings back ‘fast track’ trade bill

THE US Senate finance committee has revived a “fast-track” bill giving Bill Clinton, the president, authority to negotiate new trade deals.

The Senate approved the same legislation last year before it was killed-off in the House of Representatives.

The Financial Times says the fast-track bill was resurrected in Congress to please both the business and agriculture lobbies, and to annoy the White House.

Meanwhile, the annual debate over Chinas trade status gets under way today in the House of Representatives.

• Financial Times 22/07/98 page 4