US senators question Bush authority to talk WTO deal
Two Democratic senators, 90-year-old Robert C Byrd and Russell D Feingold, have written a letter to US President George Bush expressing surprise at the announcement of the WTO Ministerial.
By Sheila Mathrani, ET Bureau |
GENEVA: Two Democratic senators, 90-year-old Robert C Byrd and Russell D Feingold, have written a letter to US President George Bush expressing surprise at the announcement of the WTO Ministerial and questioning under what authority the current US administration is participating in negotiations to finalise an agreement on certain issues related to the WTO Doha Round as the US Fast Track Promotion Authority terminated on June 30, 2007 and that the Congress has refused to provide the US government further authority.
���We are interested in understanding what USTR Schwab or other US trade officials are representing to other countries��� officials regarding their capacity to make binding commitments at this ministerial on behalf of the US Congress ,��� the senators wrote in the latter, dated July 23 (a copy of it is with the ET).
The senators said they wanted to ensure that the offers made represent US positions that could obtain support in the US Congress. ���We are eager to ensure that if US trade negotiators participate in the current WTO ministerial, they represent US positions that comport with the sort of WTO agreement that could obtain support in the US Congress,��� they wrote.
Asked for his reactions to this letter, Indian commerce secretary Gopal Pillai said whatever agreement would be arrived at would not be ratified by the US Congress this session. It would be up to the next US president to take it up with the next US Congress, which would have to approve it.
With the US Congress only in session until September 26, with less than a fortnight working days, there will not be any time for the Congress to approve it in 2008. If the US Congress does not approve what has been agreed upon, then it would have to be renegotiated.
Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath was surprised to learn about the letter and has just informed the press that he will be asking USTR Susan Schwab to clarify and give her position.
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