House OK's GATT fast track; filibuster threatened in Senate

The House of Representatives approved a measure to extend fast-track negotiating authority to the Uruguay round of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) talks. Congress can only approve or reject trade treaties and not amend them under fast-track rules. The measure gives the Clinton administration until December 15, 1993 to conclude the talks. The measure will be forwarded to the Senate for a vote where it faces a threatened filibuster from Senator Ernest Hollings, who wants the GATT Multi-fiber Arrangement phased out over 15 years instead of the proposed 10 years.
WASHINGTON -- The House has voted in favor of President Clinton's request to extend fast-track negotiating authority for the Uruguay Round of the GATT talks. The measure, approved in a [...]