US President Bill Clinton yesterday launched a push for legislation that would give him authority to negotiate trade pacts, including a deal to bring Chile into the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mr Clinton named Recording Industry Association of America Chairman Jason

Berman to head the administration's effort to win passage in Congress of the so-

called fast track trade negotiation legislation. "Every president, Republican and Democrat, in the past two decades has had this vital tool to maintain effective American leadership in the global economy," Mr Clinton said in a statement announcing Mr Berman's appointment.