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ROCKEFELLER, 13 OTHER SENATORS URGE SENATE LEADERS TO HOLD OFF ON FAST TRACK UNTIL PRESIDENT’S 201 DECISION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), along with 13 of his Senate colleagues, today urged Senate leaders Tom Daschle and Trent Lott to delay consideration of "Fast Track" trade negotiating authority until President Bush makes his decision on 201 remedies in early March.

The Senators said that although they have different views on Fast Track legislation, they believe that it would be inappropriate to begin consideration of the legislation before the Administration’s final action on Section 201 remedies.

Rockefeller and the other senators stated that they are concerned about being asked to change U.S. trade policy without fully knowing the facts and circumstances affecting how a major U.S. industry is operating. They requested that they have time to evaluate the President’s 201 decision before consideration of Fast Track, also referred to as Trade Promotion Authority.

Fast track legislation, if passed, will define parameters for U.S. international trade policy over the next several years, including the next round of World Trade Organization talks in Doha, Qatar.

Late last year, through a Section 201 investigation, the International Trade Commission unanimously found that there had been harm done to the U.S. steel industry by illegally subsidized imports and submitted their remedy recommendations to President Bush.

The full text of the letter is attached.

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February 25, 2002

Dear Senators,

You have announced that within the next several months, the Senate will begin debate on legislation to grant "Fast Track" trade negotiating authority to the President, also referred to as Trade Promotion Authority. Concurrently, the Administration is in the process of completing a Section 201 investigation regarding steel imports, their contribution to the overall steel crisis, and appropriate remedies; a final decision is expected early next month. While each of us may have different views as to the merits of the Fast Track legislation, we all believe that it would be inappropriate to begin consideration of this legislation prior to final Administration action on the Section 201.

The Fast Track legislation will help establish the goals and parameters of United States international trade policy for the next several years, most particularly for the round of World Trade Organization negotiations that was launched in Doha, Qatar. To consider this legislation without a final steel decision, would not permit effective analysis of U.S. trade policy and the ramifications of Fast Track legislation. Under such circumstances, we would be asked to change U.S. policy without a complete understanding of the facts and circumstances affecting how a major U.S. industry is operating.

We are not asking you to indefinitely postpone any action on this bill, we are only asking that we have a chance to measure the President’s resolve on trade issues so vital to our states and the country as a whole. In fact, the statutory deadline for a decision in the Section 201 case is March 6, 2002. We know the Senate has a great deal of important business to complete before that date. Given this time frame, we do not believe that this request is overly burdensome or would subject the Senate calendar to unnecessary delays. We would appreciate your allowing us the time to evaluate President Bush’s 201 decision in advance of consideration of Trade Promotion Authority.