“Fast Track” or “Trade Promotion Authority” is a special legislative process designed to make it easier for the President to pass trade agreements in Congress, whether bilateral agreements or WTO agreements or other multilateral agreements.

This special legislative process:

• Limits the period of debate for the Agreement to be considered.
• Limits Members of Congress to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote - no amendments.
• Allows the president to negotiate and sign trade agreements without consulting with Congress.

Fast Track has been used to push many controversial pacts through Congress including: the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and several bilateral trade agreements like those with Chile, Singapore, Morocco, Australia, Bahrain and Oman. Negotiations for trade agreements have been ramped up to an alarming speed.  Legislators and the public have not had sufficient time to consider the extensive consequences of these agreements for communities, the environment, economic development and access to essential services.