European Commission President Romano Prodi has welcomed a decision by the US House of Representatives to grant President George W Bush the power to negotiate broad new trade agreements.
The House narrowly approved the "trade promotion authority" last Saturday. The Senate, which has a few more days than the House to vote on legislation, is expected to take up the trade bill this week and to send it to Bush to sign into law.
The bill will free Bush's hands to complete new world trade pacts and a Western Hemisphere free trade-zone by January 2005.
"From conversations with other leaders, it is clear to me how important it is to the rest of the world, and not just to the European Union, that the United States is free to negotiate on trade," Mr Prodi told Bush in a short message.
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EC President Mr Romano Prodi
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"And...the fact that you intervened yourself with the Congress in order to fight for trade promotion authority only strengthens this feeling that this is an important moment... I feel you are on the verge of a major success," Mr Prodi said.
The bill will allow President Bush to bring home trade agreements that Congress could approve or reject but not amend. Supporters say that without the authority, other countries would not negotiate seriously with Washington since Congress could change any deal.
The White House has not had the authority, also known as "fast track" trade legislation, since 1994, mainly because of Democratic Party concerns over the impact of trade agreements on workers and the environment.