But as the Senate edged closer to debate on a trade package, senior Democrats said it was uncertain a final bill could be on President Bush's desk by May 16, when a deferral on import duties owed by Andean nations will expire.

"As we work to cut the demand for drugs in the United States, we must support our southern neighbors in their efforts to build their economies and promote democracy," John Walters, director of the national drug control policy office, said at a news conference with Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and other pro-trade senators.

Under the Andean Trade Preferences Act, which expired in December 2001, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru have been able to ship cut flowers, asparagus and a long list of other goods to the United States without paying import duties.

"For the past ten years, ATPA has been a powerful trade tool in the fight against the illicit drug production and trafficking by successfully helping our Andean allies ... develop legitimate commercial exports as alternative to the illegal drug industry," Walters said.

Sen. Bob Graham, a Florida Democrat, said it was urgent that the Senate act quickly because of the May 16 deadline. That's when Bush's 90-day deferral on the collection of import duties on previously eligible Andean goods runs out.

Unless new legislation has been signed into law by May 16, all the accumulated duties will come due on that date. Administration officials insist Bush cannot order a second deferral and are using that as leverage to get the Senate to act on a package of trade bills, including the Andean measure.

However, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said he doubted the administration's word when it says it can not order another deferral.

If they did it once, "they can do it again administratively," Baucus said.

Meanwhile, as the Senate continues work on an energy bill, chances are diminishing that trade legislation will be on the Senate floor before next week.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, plans to package the Andean trade bill with other bills to expand Bush's authority to negotiate new trade agreements and to boost federal aid for workers who have lost their jobs because of changing trade flows.

He told reporters on Tuesday that he plans for the Senate to take up those bills "fairly soon," but acknowledged a final package might not be on Bush's desk by May 16.

Baucus agreed it would be difficult to meet the May 16 deadline, but said Democrats and Republicans were close to agreement on a health care provision for displaced workers that has threatened to derail the overall trade package.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved its version of all three trade bills in 2001.

Prospects for quick passage of the Andean trade bill also is complicated by the opposition from textile state senators, who fear that new textile trade benefits for the region will threaten American jobs.

Source: Reuters
Published: April 23, 2002
Copyright: 2002 Reuters

Related Articles & Web Site:

Colombia Drug War News
http://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htm

The Other Drug War
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12611.shtml

Rethink Colombian Drug War
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12575.shtml

Congress Supports Bush Colombia Plan
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12564.shtml

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