Careful consideration of NAFTA's record is central to discussions of Fast Track and the FTAA legislation now awaiting a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives in June. The proposed NAFTA expansion, formally called the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), would spread NAFTA's rules to an additional 31 Latin American and Caribbean nations by 2005. The publicized

goal of the FTAA proposal is to facilitate trade and deepen economic integration by expanding the NAFTA provisions that eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to trade and investment throughout the hemisphere.

Compounding the situation, the recently passed 2002 Farm Bill expands Federal subsidies for program crops and adds new commodities, causing farmers to be more dependent on the federal government. If it were merely an act of largesse by a benevolent government, it might be looked upon more favorably. But in light of the impending Congressional elections in key farming regions where races are expected to be hotly contested, the move is merely Bush-Rove "strategy" designed to give the GOP control of both houses of Congress.

A person can get more information on this issue by contacting the public's No.1 trade-scheme watchdog, Global Trade Watch: www.tradewatch.org/ 215 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-4611) or Mobilization for Global Justice: www.globalizethis.org/ 202-265-7714)

What's next? The World Bank and IMF meet in late Sept. and early Oct. in Washington DC. Come to DC this summer to participate in protest planning.

-- Jim Hightower