House OKs Trade Pacts With Chile, Singapore
The House overwhelmingly approved free-trade accords with Chile and Singapore. The vote was 270 to 156 to approve the Chile agreement and 272 to 155 in favor of the Singapore pact. Senate approval is likely next week.
The agreements passed with strong bipartisan support despite an effort by labor unions, fearing job losses, to hold down the number of Democratic votes. Democrats supplied 75 votes for each pact. A coalition of manufacturers, farm groups and high-tech, entertainment and service companies backed the pacts.
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