Bush Admin. Hopeful on Trade Vote

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON -- The administration expressed optimism it can win a House vote on

granting President Bush authority he needs to negotiate international trade agreements,

saying the action would deliver a badly needed boost to the slumping global economy.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick appealed Tuesday to members of the National

Association of Manufacturers to get more involved in lobbying members of Congress on

the measure, which he predicted would come up for a vote within two weeks.

"It is imperative that you let Congress know you have a strong stake in this bill," Zoellick

said.

He said that after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks it became critical for the United States to

demonstrate it was not urning its back on such ideals as the promotion of a more open global trading system.

"Trade promotes the values that are at the heart of this struggle" with terrorism, Zoellick said.

The House Ways and Means Committee approved on Oct. 9 legislation that Bush needs to negotiate new trade deals that must be approved by Congress on a yes-no vote without amendments.

This authority, formerly called fast-track and now renamed trade promotion authority, is considered essential for negotiating trade agreements because countries are unwilling to enter into agreements that can be picked apart by Congress.

But the legislation has engendered strong opposition from labor unions and environmental groups. They insist that the negotiating authority should include requirements that any new trade deals have tough provisions protecting American workers from unfair competition from countries with lax labor and environmental protections.

The opposition prevented former President Clinton from gaining this negotiating power after it lapsed in 1994 despite several attempts in Congress.

Zoellick said it was critical to win the new trade promotion authority to strengthen America's hand in launching a new round of global trade negotiations next month in Doha, Qatar. He said those talks offer the best hope of opening markets to many developing countries who have joined with the United States in the fight against terrorism. "The eyes of the world are on us," he said. "We could blow this. We need your support and energy to succeed."

In a separate speech before another business audience in Washington, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said, "Just as President Bush's leadership has created a global effort to defeat terrorism, his leadership on trade will create a global effort to spread prosperity."

As part of an intensified lobbying effort for the negotiating bill, Bush plans to meet with groups of undecided lawmakers "What we need now is a date" for the House vote, Zoellick said. "I am optimistic we can win it."

However, Lori Wallach, director of the Citizens Trade Campaign, a leading group fighting the measure, said opponents nowhave more committed votes against the proposal than supporters can claim for the bill.

She said many Democrats have been turned off by Zoellick's efforts to tie support for the divisive trade measure to support for the president's war on terrorism.

The legislation passed the House Ways and Means Committee on a 26-13 vote with support from only two Democrats on the normally pro-trade panel. Wallach said that adding to the administration's troubles was the reluctance of many Republicans to support the proposal

because of misgivings that the administration would use the negotiating power to lower trade protections for American farmers and the textile industry.

Zoellick's speaking appearance was picketed by about two dozen union and environmental protesters. One carried a sign reading, "Don't wrap the flag around fast track."