Charles Skelton: “Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations.…”

“Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Through the years, Congress has recognized the President's role in negotiating trade deals and has granted the President a great deal of leeway with regard to trade. Congress, however, must ratify every trade deal, and the President has a great deal of responsibility to work with elected members of the legislative branch before pressing forward with any negotiated trade agreement. One power Congress has occasionally authorized for the President is the so-called ``fast track'' negotiating authority. ``Fast track'' permits the President to negotiate a trade agreement while giving Congress an opportunity to ratify the agreement without amendment and within a certain time frame. ``Fast track'' allows the House and the Senate to set its own rules with respect to considering a trade agreement under these expedited conditions. In November 2006, using its ``fast track'' powers, the Administration signed a Trade Promotion Agreement with the South American country of Colombia.”