The White House NAFTA NOTES ________________________________________________________________ Monday, October 4, 1993 President Clinton Accelerates NAFTA Push * Responding to a question on the NAFTA at a town meeting in Sacremento, California last night, President Clinton said that he supported NAFTA because it would creates jobs on both sides of the border, which "will dramatically reduce the the pressure felt by Mexican working people to come here for jobs." On his return from California, President Clinton this week continues to increase the pace in his efforts to gain Congressional approval of NAFTA. Following up on his meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Friday, the President will meet with other groups of undecided members on Wednesday and Thursday. Also on Thursday, the President will participate in a conference call with the nation's governors to discuss the importance of NAFTA to the states. * The Vice President will be busy with NAFTA events this week as well, holding state leadership days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the White House. On Tuesday, the Vice President, Secretary Bentsen, USTR Kantor, EPA Administrator Browner and William Daley will meet with the Massachusetts Congressional delegation and Massachusetts business leaders. On Wednesday, the Vice President will meet with the North Carolina delegation; and on Thursday, the focus will be on New Jersey, and how it will benefit from increased trade with NAFTA. Rep. Matsui Calls on Perot to Divest Alliance or End NAFTA Opposition * In a letter sent last Friday, Rep. Robert Matsui (D-CA) called on Ross Perot to "immediately divest yourself of your interest in Alliance Corridor Inc. or that you immediately relinquish your leadership of United We Stand America's (UWSA) campaign against the North American Free Trade Agreement." "Given your financial interest in Alliance, which advertises itself as the beneficiary of NAFTA, your strong opposition to the agreement is both deceptive and self serving," the letter concluded. "This situation should not continue because it allows you to benefit, both in fame and finance, should NAFTA win or lose." * "While Ross Perot has been arguing that the North American Free Trade Agreement would hurt the United States," read the lead in an October 1st Business Section article in the Washington Post, "one of his own business ventures shows how it could help." The article described the differences between Ross Perot's public rhetoric and his family's private business dealings. The Post article also noted that one of the companies that has already decided to move into the Perot's project, "plans to use it as a distribution center for electric lighting components manufactured at its plant in Mexico." ###