Ronald Reagan used the term ‘free and fair trade’ in a radio address in 1986 and the term ‘fair trade’ has been thrown around the political landscape ever since. Now, this political ‘fair trade’ movement has little to do with the independent international consumer movement of which Two Hands is a part.

This political ‘fair trade’ movement is pushing for accountability in US trade agreements and it is nonetheless important. The November 2006 election was enormously successful for politicians who are using the term ‘fair trade’ to describe their approach to trade policy. The voters who issued this mandate are still fighting and their focus right now is on stopping the renewal of fast track authority. David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover, writes that the domestic fair trade movement has just scored a big victory by successfully pressuring Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to reverse his position on the issue. Fast track gives the president authority to negotiate agreements that the Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend or filibuster. It was passed as part of the Trade Act of 1974 and is subject to Congressional renewal periodically. The Congress did not renew fast track in 1994 and did not renew it again until 2002, but then by just three votes in the House literally in the dead of night at 3:30am.

Under fast track, the president is authorized to negotiate trade agreements with foreign countries without consulting Congress or state legislators. After the executive branch locks down the terms of the deal and writes the implementing legislation, Congress is only permitted a yes or no vote, while states are virtually left out of the process. Thus, state and congressional officials elected to represent the public interest have no role in the process but to approve or disapprove the whole package.

Without the terms of the trade details subject to debate and amendment in the House or Senate trade deals under fast track nearly always lack provisions most Americans support such as labor rights for foreign workers and a propensity to drastically favor the interests of US-based multinational corporations over the interests of US workers.

While I don’t necessarily agree with every position the ‘fair traders’ maintain, I certainly agree that fast track authority is undemocratic and gives even more power to an already incredibly powerful branch (err… person) of our government. The people should have a say in the terms of trade agreements our government authorizes, not simply a yea or nay vote without possibility of amendment.

What say you on the issue, dear readers?