Clock Runs Out on Fast Track Trade (7/2/07)

On Saturday, June 30, Congress allowed President Bush's "Fast Track" trade agreement authority to expire. If renewed the president would have been able to continue to negotiate trade agreements which could not be amended by Congress.

Since taking office in 2001, President Bush has taken advantage of fast track authority to prevent pro-worker legislators from making needed changes to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and other trade deals which will eventually result in the loss of thousands of U.S. jobs
"Fast track allows presidents to negotiate trade deals that give big business what it wants, while denying workers and their families what they need," said RWDSU Stuart Appelbaum. "Finally we have a Congress that was willing to do the right thing and pull the plug on fast track."