Byron Dorgan: “the President has sent to the Congress a determination that he would like Congress to provide what is called fast-track…”

“the President has sent to the Congress a determination that he would like Congress to provide what is called fast-track trade authority with which he could negotiate additional and new trade agreements with other countries. It is my hope that in the coming weeks, this request will result in a significant, new and interesting debate about this country's trade policies. I know as I begin this discussion that we will almost retreat immediately into two camps. The one camp is ``We're for free trade, we're for, therefore, what is called fast-track trade authority.'' The other side is somehow a bunch of know-nothing protectionists, a bunch of xenophobes who just don't understand the world, and all they want to do is create walls around our country. That is the thoughtless way that most trade debate has been conducted in this town and in Congress. I hope, however, that this time, when we discuss fast-track trade authority, we will have an opportunity to evaluate trade policy. The issue for me is not fast track. That is a procedural issue. Yes; I will want to evaluate the underlying law from 1974 on fast track, and I am going to do that to see whether that fast-track approach might be changed. However, I am much more interested in the question of what will be the results? What kind of trade agreements and what kinds of trade policies are they seeking under fast track?”