Fast Track: A Legal, Historical, and Political Analysis: 6 (International Law and Development) - Tapa dura

Fast track was conceived as a mundane procedural mechanism to enhance the president's credibility in negotiating complex multilateral trade agreements by streamlining the congressional approval process into an up-or-down vote in return for enhanced congressional oversight. It allows the President to negotiate international trade agreements knowing that Congress will provide a timely vote on the agreement without amendments. Given its seminal importance to the trade debate, however, fast track has acquired greater significance and controversy.

Hal Shapiro is an attorney with Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C.