As it did last April, the New York Times again urges that Congress approve the Colombian free trade pact. (Via Instapundit.) As I’ve pointed out before, Colombia already has trade preferences so even protectionism can’t “justify” opposition to the pact. Its primary result would be to open Colombia to US exports.
They do miss the point a bit with this argument though:
If the lame-duck Congress does not approve the trade pact this year, prospects would dim considerably since it would lose the cover of the rule (formerly known as fast track) that provides for an up-or-down, no-amendment vote.
Congress already changed the rules to avoid a required vote on the pact last April, so I see no reason to think they feel constrained by the rules.
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