Catherwood LibraryILR School

Over the objections of organized labor, environmental groups and human rights advocates, the U.S. Senate voted sixty-six to thirty yesterday to approve an amended version of a trade bill that would give the president fast track trade agreement powers for the first time in eight years (see WIT for April 23, 2002). The bill was passed after provisions were added improving benefits for workers laid off as a result of increased trade (see WIT for May 17, 2002), and maintaining the Senate?s power to modify presidential trade agreements in order to preserve anti-dumping laws. Allow these amendments made passage of the bill possible, they have not mollified unions and other groups who argue that the bill still provides insufficient protection against child labor violations and pollution, and have angered businesses, conservative politicians and the Bush administration---which is currently indicating that it will veto any trade bill that includes the anti-dumping provision.