I was doing some research at the Library of Congress today, and the station had, as usual, been taken over by some advertiser with a political message (it’s the station closest to the Capitol Building). This time, it was advocating “No fast Track Authority”. Technically the Senate has the right to advise and consent on trade treaties, but “Fast Track” reduces this advisory role, as trade treaties usually involve a lot of horse trading, and if the US Senate were to start reneging on those trades, the bargaining position of the US in future negotiations would be weakened.
The conceit is that the United States has a uniquely perilous ratification stage, and in other countries ratification is a formality. So if the Japanese representitive makes a deal, the Diet can be expected to follow through.
The corrolary to this argument is that secret negotiations preclude public debate.
