Catherwood LibraryILR School

Citing the recent downturn in the economy, the Bush Administration and Republican leaders in Congress say they are adamant in their plans to move ahead on fast-track trade legislation to make it easier for the president to conduct trade negotiations without input from Congress. The legislation is similar to bills that organized labor and its political allies have shot down in the past, and AFL-CIO president John Sweeney has warned Republicans that the only thing they will accomplish by attempting to push this bill through Congress is the destruction of any existing bipartisanship. Republicans claim the bill is needed to keep America competitive with countries that have such streamlined trade agreement mechanisms, while labor leaders insist that unless economic and labor regulations are included in such legislation it will worsen the flow of jobs and factories to other countries.