President George W. Bush’s decision this week to ask Congress to renew his fast-track trade promotion authority (TPA) will be greeted with relief by US trading partners as a sign of Washington’s continued commitment to further progress on trade. They should not exhale too soon. US trade policy is entering its most perilous phase in two decades. But, if adroitly handled, this year could be an opportunity to shore up long-waning US domestic support for trade.

Mr Bush has little choice but to ask Congress for the extension. While there are signs of life in the Doha round of world trade negotiations, no final deal will be completed in time to meet the July expiration of TPA, which allows the president to submit trade agreements to Congress for a straight up or down vote. Nor will big US bilateral negotiations with Korea, Malaysia and Thailand be completed by the deadline.