Airstrip One

Fast Track

The Senate decided to allow Bush to take more of an initiative in the WTO Doha round by passing a fast track vote, 215-212. The putative Steel trade war also appears to have calmed down a little after the US blinked when the EU threatened retaliatory action.

That is why it was a nonstarter for Blair to ask for concessions in this area as our trade policy does not exist. It belongs to the EU lock, stock and barrel and even if events move in our interest, it still demonstrates our impotence as one voice amongst fifteen.