Political Quotes

Byron Dorgan: “This administration says they have negotiated nearly 200 trade agreements in the last 5 years--200 of them. Well, why…”

On the recordOctober 31, 1997
This administration says they have negotiated nearly 200 trade agreements in the last 5 years--200 of them. Well, why didn't they need fast track to do that? Because those agreements were mostly bilateral trade agreements in which they weren't trying to change underlying U.S. law. Fast track gives them the opportunity to go out someplace with some negotiators and close the door, have a negotiation outside the purview of the public and propose changing underlying U.S. law. Then fast track says when you come back here to the U.S. Senate, nobody, no Member of this body, has an opportunity to have a voice in changing that agreement that was made behind closed doors.
Said by
Byron Dorgan
Democratic · North Dakota

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the implications of fast track authority for trade agreements.

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