Bill sparks debate in Congress

Trade Promotion Authority, formerly known as fast-track trade authority, allowing a president to negotiate trade agreements with restricted input from Congress, is being considered for final passage in Congress.\nPresident George W. Bush has expressed the need for additional powers in trade negotiations.\n"I believe strongly in trade," Bush said at the State Department April 4. "I believe not only is trade in my nation's interests, I think trade is in the interest of those nations who struggle with poverty, that desire a route out of poverty." \nThe United States has raised its subsidies for American farmers and ranchers and generated great criticism from around the world for its protectionism.\nAs a result, European nations such as Germany have expressed their concern.\nAnn M. Veneman, U.S. secretary of agriculture, said in a May 23 press release that TPA is a bridge for a more impartial trade system.\n"This Administration is strongly committed to expanding trade and tearing down unfair trade barriers that hurt our producers in the international marketplace," Veneman said. "If we are going to accomplish these goals, the president needs the tools to get the job done. TPA is critical to that agenda." \nThis issue also speeds up trade negotiation and raises levels of trade, IU undergraduate economics advisor Peter K. Olson said.\n"There will be more trade," he said. "(Bush) won't have to deal with a Congress that is more sensitive to local economies or even state economies."\nOlson said he supports TPA as a practical matter, but indicates a concern from a constitutional standpoint.\n"Too much power in executive branch of government," Olson said.\nTPA is expected to make an impact not only in industrialized nations, but also in developing countries around the world.\n"It is likely that the new trade round will be more favorable to the Third World," IU political science department chairman Jeffrey A. Hart said. "The last round (the Uruguay Round), except in agriculture, was relatively unfavorable."\nOpposition against TPA exists as well, particularly among organized labor, which contends that further deregulation may have negative effects on the world economy.\nSome organizations are currently debating the consequences of TPA.\nRob Cavenaugh, director of Unitarian Unitarist Association of Congregations, Washington Office for Advocacy, said his group is looking at the issue closely.\n"We don't have a stance yet. We are in a process of developing one. We are studying the economic effect of it," Cavenaugh said.\nThe Senate passed TPA on May 23, and Congress is expected to vote on final passage this session.