Fast Track expired at midnight on June 30, 2007, and can only be renewed with Congressional approval. Fast Track is unlikely to be addressed by Congress any time soon – but, in the past, it has survived having expired for periods up to seven years, only to be renewed again when deemed politically feasible.
Fast Track trade promotion authority is the trade negotiating mechanism that rushed NAFTA, CAFTA and the WTO through Congress. These extremely harmful trade policies have led to:
- The export of millions of high-paying U.S. jobs
- Declining living standards for the U.S. middle class
- Increased poverty in developing nations
- The weakening of key environmental and food safety laws
Fast Track exempts trade deals from ordinary Congressional scrutiny by eliminating normal committee review, amendment and debate procedures. At the same time, Fast Track grants corporate lobbyists special access to White House trade negotiators.
Additional info on Fast Track:
Introduction to Fast Track (Powerpoint, English)
Introduccion al “Fast Track” (Powerpoint, Spanish)
Fast Track, Time to Go (10-min video)
States’ Rights and International Trade
Hermiston City Council Resolution
Malheur County Commissioners Letter
Writing a Letter to the Editor Opposing Fast Track
