Reuters
Wednesday, January 31, 2007; 12:58 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Bush urged the Democratic-led Congress on Wednesday to renew his fast-track authority for negotiating international trade agreements.

"Presidents of both parties have considered this authority essential to completing good trade agreements," Bush said in a state of the economy speech in New York. "The authority is set to expire on July 1, and I ask Congress to renew it."

Bush needs lawmakers to extend his fast-track powers to finish the now-stalled Doha round of world trade talks and press ahead with several bilateral trade deals.

"We're going to work hard to complete it," he said. "We are dedicated to making sure that we have a successful Doha round."

Bush could face resistance on the trade front from Democrats, some of whom consider international deals struck so far to be harmful to American workers.

"I know there's going to be a vigorous debate on trade, and bashing trade can make for good soundbites on the evening news, but walling off America from world trade would be a disaster for our economy," he said.

The World Trade Organization's Doha round, launched in 2001, was suspended last July with the United States, Europe and developing countries led by Brazil at loggerheads over farm trade reform.