October 8, 1992 CLINTON CONTINUES TO WAFFLE ON FREE TRADE PRESIDENT BUSH HAD THE VISION OF A NEW FREE TRADE AGREEMENT EXTENDING FROM THE YUKON TO THE YUCATAN, AND THE DETERMINATION TO FINISH THE TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL MAKE FREE TRADE POSSIBLE. BILL CLINTON HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE MAP ON NAFTA, AT TIMES SUPPORTING AN AGREEMENT, AND AT OTHER TIMES OPPOSING IT. CLINTON HAS EVEN CALLED FOR NAFTA TO BE RENEGOTIATED. CLINTON'S PERSISTENT WAFFLING ON NAFTA IS JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HIS INABILITY TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS CRITICAL TO AMERICA'S FUTURE. Benefits of the President's NAFTA In negotiating the NAFTA, President Bush worked to ensure that the final Agreement would increase American exports; create new, better-paying American jobs; and help American workers and industries that needed more time to adjust to new conditions. o NAFTA will create U.S. jobs. Already, over 1.5 million American jobs are supported by exports to Canada and more than 600,000 by exports to Mexico. By 1995, because of NAFTA, over one million U.S. jobs will be supported by U.S. exports to Mexico. o NAFTA will create better-paying jobs. Export-related jobs pay 17% more than the average U.S. job. o NAFTA will expand U.S. exports. Since Mexico began reducing trade barriers, U.S. exports to Mexico have more than tripled, and will top $40 billion this year, yielding about an $8 billion U.S. trade surplus. Clinton's Fig-Leaf Objections Now, Clinton says he is for a NAFTA -- with conditions. Clinton is hiding behind these fig-leaf objections to avoid having to make the politically-risky decision of supporting free trade. o At one point Clinton was reported as "essentially endors[ing]" the position of NAFTA's leading naysayer, Richard Gephardt, to win the endorsement of the AFL-CIO. (Washington Post, 4/14/92) o When the President announced completion of a NAFTA, Clinton refused to say whether he supported it until he had read every provision. Yet, in March 1992, Clinton had no reservations about calling for NAFTA's renegotiation -- before any Agreement had been reached. -- more -- o Clinton's stated reservations with the NAFTA relate to environmental and worker training provisions. If Clinton had read the Agreement properly, he would have found that his concerns have been more than satisfied. Worker Training As Ambassador Carla Hills, the U.S. Trade Representative, has stated, "Economic studies are virtually unanimous in predicting that NAFTA will generate new, high-paying U.S. jobs across all sectors -- from autos to agriculture." o For those workers temporarily dislocated by the NAFTA, President Bush has announced a comprehensive Worker Adjustment Initiative, under which $335 million will be reserved each year to help retrain workers. o The President's comprehensive worker retraining proposal will ensure that all U.S. workers have the skills to take advantage of the new opportunities created by free trade, and to compete successfully in today's global markets. Environmental Protection As Ambassador Hills has said, "NAFTA goes farther than any prior trade agreement in protecting and enhancing the environment." o The National Wildlife Federation, the nation's largest conservation organization, endorsed the environmental provisions of the NAFTA, noting that environmental protection had been made a 'corner stone' of the agreement." o The U.S. and Mexico have already developed a comprehensive U.S.-Mexico Border Plan to address environmental concerns. Mexico has allocated $460 million over three years to implement the Border Plan. President Bush has requested $241 million for Border Plan implementation in FY 1993 alone. -- If Clinton is truly concerned about environmental protection, he should call on those Democrats in Congress who have slashed the President's funding request for the U.S.-Mexico Border Plan to restore the funds. The Bottom Line o President Bush has taken a strong stand for free trade, expanded exports and new American jobs. Fearing a political backlash from Democratic special interests, Bill Clinton has refused to make the tough decisions in support of free trade. # # # CLINTON VERSUS CLINTON ON NAFTA He Supports It "I think it is imperative that we make alliances with Mexico. . . and eventually bring in as many of the Latin American countries as possible so that we can have a marketing system . . ." (Southwest Times Record, 6/2/91) Well, Maybe Not "The good news is trade is going up and the deficit is going down. . . The bad news is we're moving too many jobs down there. How do we get the best of both worlds? Negotiate an agreement which requires Mexico to lift its labor standards and wages. Lift its investment in environmental protection so we can cut our wage gap." (Democratic Debate, 3/5/92) "We haven't negotiated the right kind of trade agreement with Mexico. We should negotiate a new trade agreement with them..." ("We the People" Debate, 3/27/92) He Supports It "If I think we've got a good agreement, which will increase prosperity on both sides of the river, then I'll go with it." (NAM Speech 6/24/92) Well, Maybe Not "We must reject the outdated rhetoric of both free traders who are oblivious to workers and the environment, and protectionists who ignore the benefits of expanded world trade. . . I applaud Majority Leader [Richard] Gephardt's continuing efforts to press the President to ensure that these goals are, in fact, incorporated." (Clinton Press Release, 7/27/92) Definitely Not "Based on everything we read, this treaty has a whole lot of things in there for people who want to invest money and nothing on labor practices and the environment." (San Antonio Light, 7/30/92) "There's almost no concern given to lifting the labor standards. . . and I think it's a real mistake." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/1/92) Don't Count Me Out, Yet "In principle, I think we would be better off with the right kind of agreement with Mexico. If we have no agreement, we will continue to have manufacturing jobs go on a fast track to Mexico. . . I am reviewing it carefully and when I have a definite opinion I will say so. . ." (Detroit Economists Club Speech, 8/21/92) # # #