GATT

GRINDING TO A HALT? Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), the chamber's senior Democrat, broke with the Clinton Administration today and urged the postponement of anew global trade accorduntil next year in order to take into account the impact of this month's elections. "I believe it would be a mistake to ignore this political sea change by ramming the GATT through Congress next week without much debate and with no opportunity to amend," Byrd said today. "These are matters that concern every American and should not be decided hurriedly, under the cloud of a lame-duck session." Under the fast-track rules for trade agreements -- which apply until the end of the year -- Senate debate is limited to 20 hours and the pact must be accepted or rejected without amendment. But President Clinton himself reaffirmed his commitment to GATT and rejected incoming Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole'sattempt to link passageof the treaty with a capital gains tax cut. "I don't think that's the right thing to do," he said