White House Yields on ‘Fast-Track’ Bill

The White House and the head of the House Ways and Means Committee reached agreement on compromise legislation that would give President Clinton special powers to negotiate trade deals. The compromise on “fast-track” trade negotiation authority addresses key Democratic concerns and would allow the president to address workers rights, environmental protection, and health and safety issues, a spokesman said. The compromise reached with Ways and Means Chairman Bill Archer (R-Texas) is similar to a bill backed by the Senate Finance Committee last week with bipartisan support.