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- <text id=93TT2502>
- <title>
- Feb. 15, 1993: Tough Trading
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1993
- Feb. 15, 1993 The Chemistry of Love
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- THE WEEK, Page 18
- BUSINESS
- Tough Trading
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p>The Clinton Administration moves decisively against protectionism
- </p>
- <p> On the high seas of transatlantic commerce, it was the
- equivalent of a shot across the bow. U.S. Trade Representative
- Mickey Kantor threatened to stop the purchase of
- telecommunications, transportation and power equipment
- manufactured in the European Community, thus signaling that the
- Clinton Administration means business about dismantling
- protectionist trade barriers. The stern new measure is aimed at
- the E.C.'s "buy Europe" policy, which allows government agencies
- to award lucrative contracts to other E.C. members even when
- underbid by foreign firms. Unless a compromise is reached before
- March 22, $45 million in annual purchases will be terminated.
- Kantor's motivation was in part due to his frustration with what
- he describes as the E.C.'s refusal to show "a desire to conclude
- a balanced trade agreement." Unamused, E.C. Trade Commissioner
- Leon Brittan vowed that Europeans "would not accept this form
- of unilateral bullying," and he scheduled a meeting with Kantor
- this week--just what the U.S. trade rep wanted.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-