Clinton Determined on Trade Deal

[MDOLAN <mdolan@citizen.org>]

  file under
  Sticky Disputes.
  
  
  >                    Clinton Determined on Trade Deal
  >
  > (August 6, 5:31 pm)
  >
  > WASHINGTON (AP) - President Clinton said Wednesday he is determined to
  > win congressional approval to negotiate new free trade agreements, but
  > his top trade negotiator said the administration has yet to resolve a
  > sticky dispute over labor rights and the environment.
  >
  > At a White House news conference, Clinton said one of his top
  > priorities for the fall will be obtaining "fast track" authority from
  > Congress that will allow him to negotiate new free trade agreements.
  >
  > "We will grow our economy and create good jobs by continuing to open
  > more foreign markets to our goods and services - through tough, fair
  > trade agreements," Clinton said.
  >
  > But U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky told reporters at a
  > separate briefing that the adminstration has yet to reach consensus
  > with members of Congress on acceptable language dealing with worker
  > rights and the environment.
  >
  > She said negotiations on this issue would proceed for the rest of the
  > month with the goal of introducing a bill in early September.
  >
  > Clinton has insisted that any future free trade deals should include
  > clauses to prohibit trading partners from exploiting workers or the
  > environment - two issues of vital interest to two key Democratic
  > constituencies, labor unions and environmentalists.
  >
  > But Republicans, who control Congress, have balked, arguing that these
  > issues are outside the scope of free trade deals and open such
  > measures to protectionist forces.
  >
  > Barshefsky offered no hint on how this impasse might be resolved,
  > saying only, "The goal has always been to put forward a bill that
  > would from its inception garner very strong bipartisan support. We
  > have to be mindful of all the competing interests and do our best to
  > thread that needle."
  >
  > Clinton has pledged to expand the current North American Free Trade
  > Agreement covering Mexico and Canada by creating a hemisphere-wide
  > free trade area by the year 2005. He also has committed to reaching a
  > free trade deal with Pacific rim nations by 2010.
  >
  ***** NOTES from MDOLAN (MDOLAN @ CITIZEN) at 8/07/97 9:14 AM
  I needn't remind you that your congressional delegations are on vacation 
  right now, back home. [We don't miss them - ed.]
  
  But I did anyway.  You should call them on the phone, maybe stop by and 
  visit.  Particularly if you care about Fair Trade.  
  
  You can influence the historic "sticky dispute."
  
  MD/Trade/PC