More Americans are getting their pay-cheques from foreign firms: 5.3m in 2006, or 4.5% of the private workforce.

Without a deal, says Dave Greenlaw of Morgan Stanley, taxpayers will see the taxes withheld from their pay-cheques jump by an average of 12% in January.

I had to show it to pay for these shoes with my traveler's cheques. M: Well, let me call the shoe department to see if they've found a passport.