Over White House objections, GOP leaders in the House of Representatives announced plans to schedule a late September floor vote on fast-track trade negotiating authority.
Exports are critical to America's farm economy.
The White House opposes early action, arguing that it will be much easier to pass fast track, which deeply divides congressional Democrats, after the November Senate and House elections when the political atmosphere in Washington will be less heated. A defeat in September could jeopardize chances of gaining the trade negotiating authority before the end of President Clinton's second term. The Senate Finance Committee helped spark the House action by approving July 21 a sweeping trade bill that includes fast-track trade negotiating authority. While the Senate is expected to narrowly approve the bill, both the Clinton administration and Senate Democrats immediately criticized the action as politically motivated. The White House clearly would prefer to avoid a bruising, intraparty squabble over fast track just weeks before the congressional elections.