A selection of opinion pieces and editorials on trade policy from The Washington Post.

Why Fast Track Failed
November 24, 1997
Why did Fast Track go down in flames? It failed principally because the Clinton administration tried to finesse the underlying issue rather than address it head on. – Sander M. Levin

Fast Track: The Fiasco . . .
November 16, 1997
So much went wrong in the White House handling of the "fast track" trade issue that the one thing President Clinton did that was both difficult and right has not received sufficient attention. The price for fast track was his acceptance of new restrictions on U.S. funds for international family planning programs, and he said no. – David S. Broder

Why the Democrats Bolted
November 14, 1997
President Clinton's defeat on the trade bill this week was the most important political event since the president's reelection. The roots of the setback lie in the balanced budget deal reached earlier this year, in the White House's utter misunderstanding of what House Democrats were trying to say and in a misreading of public opinion on trade. – E. J. Dionne, Jr.

A Victory for the Flat-Earth Caucus
November 11, 1997
This country has told the world that, after more than 50 years of leading the fight to dismantle obstacles to the free flow of goods and services across borders, we're turning once more toward protectionism.– James K. Glassman

The Fast-Track Loss
November 11, 1997
Mr. Clinton yesterday withdrew his proposal before it could go down to defeat, and he said he intends to try again in this Congress. The signs are not auspicious, but you never know. Maybe next time the greater good will prevail. – Editorial

The Revolt Against Fast Track
November 7, 1997
If fast track fails, it will be because the vision painted by the friends of free trade is not being realized, especially for those at the bottom of the economy. If fast track passes, President Clinton needs to keep the promises he made to get this negotiating authority. – E. J. Dionne, Jr.

Fast Track: The Real Issue
November 6, 1997
The question is not whether we are to be fully engaged in the global economy. Rather, it is on what terms we engage. And at the center of that question is the issue of workers' rights. – Jerome I. Levinson

A Vote on Trade
November 5, 1997
Increasing trade is demonstrably the route to more prosperity and higher incomes in developing countries, which in turn will provide the most favorable climate for bringing their working conditions closer to U.S. standards. – Editorial

Fast Track, Heavy Freight
November 4, 1997
If Clinton fails to win the same "fast track" negotiating authority that previous presidents have carried into international bargaining, it would threaten a central part of his overall economic policy and rattle already jumpy world stock markets. – David S. Broder

Get Back to the Fast Track on Trade
November 3, 1997
Passing fast track is the right thing to do. Our nation's future prosperity – the good jobs that will provide a living for our children and grandchildren – will be created through international trade. – Bob Dole

Say Yes to Fast Track
October 19, 1997
The debate is between those in favor of expanding trade opportunities for America and those desirous of protecting America from international competition. And if the arguments of the protectionists were valid, Bangladesh and the Congo would be economic powerhouses. – Brent Scowcroft

'Globalization' on the March
October 15, 1997
The issue is no longer "free trade" vs. "protectionism," because history and technology have settled that question. Free trade – actually, open trade -- triumphed, and there is no going back. – Robert J. Samuelson

Keeping on Top of Trade
October 9, 1997
Today's trade negotiations are akin to the arms talks of the Cold War era, for in the age of geo-economics they will determine the balance of power just as surely as did the political and military bargaining of the past. The United States must be at the table when the deals are being done. – Clyde Prestowitz

Pushing for Open Trade
October 7, 1997
The differences in approach now are minute compared with the damage the United States would suffer if no bill is passed and this country is relegated to the sidelines of global trade politics. – Editorial

Gephardt Bets on Slowing Down the Fast Track
October 5, 1997
Dick Gephardt has been seized by a new issue – "fast track" authority for the president to negotiate trade agreements such as NAFTA with Chile and other South American countries. Now he's a man possessed. – Mary McGrory

On the 'Fast Track' to Nowhere
September 21, 1997
"Fast track" poses a fundamental choice of Clinton's leadership. Will he forge a bipartisan coalition for progressive reform or will he assure business that there is no difference between the two parties? – Robert L. Borosage

The Trade Bill
September 17, 1997
Congress ought to pass the Clinton trade bill, and our sense is that, after a lot of venting – and some healthy consciousness-raising – they will. – Editorial

The Joy of Competition
September 16, 1997
Public policy should encourage wide-open competition because it creates a better life for all Americans through imports. – James K. Glassman

A Matter of Leadership
September 14, 1997
Fast track has little to do with NAFTA and everything to do with asserting U.S. leadership to the economic, political and strategic advantage of all Americans. – Mickey Kantor

The Fast-Track Fight
September 12, 1997
In the long run, nations will see that some coordination of standards may in fact help bolster sovereignty. The fastest road to that goal is to help more and more countries reach a basic level of prosperity. That requires more trade and more openness, not less. – Editorial

NAFTA at Three
July 16, 1997
Limiting trade is not the way toward increased prosperity for low-skill wage earners or anyone else. The United States won't be able to maintain its standard of living unless it continues to expand exports and look for new markets. That calls for building on NAFTA, not tearing it down. – Editorial

Net Loss With NAFTA
April 12, 1996
The real debate is about fair trade. The real question is whether America's trade agreements provide not only open markets – which we all favor – but also fair trade rules. Our producers and workers can't compete when the trade rules are stacked against them. – Byron Dorgan

Free Trade: Strip the Myth Away
March 26, 1996
Stripped of myth and cant, free trade has a powerful case to make. The question now is: Who has the courage to do the stripping? – James K. Glassman