History of the Fast Track extension of NAFTA

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Fast Track Update
From NAFTA & Inter-American Trade Monitor, 6 October 1995. Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee added six years of fast-track negotiating authority to the budget reconciliation bill, but excluded workers' rights and environmental issues from the fast-track authority.
U.S. Green Groups Reject NWF Plan to Negotiate Fast-Track Demands
Inside U.S. Trade, 5 September 1997. A major U.S. environmental organization, NWF, fails to convince other green groups to enter into a process of negotiating environmental demands with the Clinton Administration in return for their support for fast-track negotiating authority.
Stop NAFTA fast track
People's Weekly World, Editorial, 13 September 1997. The so-called ‘fast track.’ mode of legislating, of dubious constitutionality, permits the President to negotiate the terms of a trade agreement with other countries and then submit it for a quick up or down vote to the House and Senate. President Clinton is ever ready to do the bidding of his Wall Street patrons.
Government by and for the elites
By Kevin Phillips, Los Angeles Times, 21 September 1997. Most of the allies the Democratic president is relying on for this fight are Republicans because at stake are back-room deals, big campaign contributions and bigger favors. The insiders and experts are taking over. Often even Congress gets pushed aside.
Fast-Track pushes labor, environment linkage into WTO hands
From Michael Papandopoulous, 24 September 1997. The fast-track would make it a ‘principal negotiating objective’ to utilize the WTO to protect internationally recognized workers' rights. The Administration will urge the WTO to reconsider the linkeage of labor rights and WTO rules, and push for the WTO to adopt the principle that denial of workers' rights should not be a means of competitive advantage for a country. Developing countries have lobbied forcefully for the WTO to keep its distance from labor issues.
Defeating NAFTA—The Fast Track
Worlkers World, Editorial, 23 October 1997. ‘Free trade’ treaties inevitably strengthen the hand of the biggest, richest capitalists—U.S. big business—and subjugate the national bourgeoisies of the oppressed countries.
Clinton Team Intensifies Push for Trade Powers
By Gene Gibbons, Reuters, 23 October 1997. Fast track power would enable Clinton to conclude trade pacts that can be rejected by Congress but not revised. He wants the special power to bring Chile into the NAFTA and to negotiate market-opening accords with Asia and Latin America.
Fast-Track Defeat a Blow to ‘U.S. Model’
By Jim Lobe, IPS, 12 November 1997. Bill Clinton's failure to win ‘fast-track’ authority to negotiate new foreign trade agreements is a major blow to the U.S. vision of prosperity through global commerce and raises questions about the long-term political viability of the so-called ‘US Model— of open markets, deregulation, and privatisation.
No ‘Fast Track’ Without Safety Measures
By Harley Shaiken, Los Angeles Times, 10 September 1997. Workers and the environment need guarantees up front that they will be part of any presidential deal. What it all comes down to is whether ordinary Americans win or lose in the changing game of global trade.
Tied to The Fast Track
By John Cavanagh and Sarah Anderson, Washington Post, 24 September 1997. The Post (in a Sept. 12 editorial) has lined up solidly with the free trade camp by drawing misleading conclusions about the growing opposition to the administration's proposals.
Labor stops Fast Track in its tracks
By Fred Gaboury, People's Weekly World, 3 October 1998. The labor movement scored a decisive victory on Sept. 25 when the House of Representatives set back a Republican election maneuver and defeated ‘Fast Track’ legislation.