NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/5926

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From: [e-mail] (Harel Barzilai)
Subject: TRADE NEWS 8/17 -- BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S SECRECY ON NAFTA CHALLENGED
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Topic 144       TRADE.NEWS 8-17-92
kmander Updates on GATT & NAFTA Negotiations     1:41 pm  Aug 17, 1992
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TRADE NEWS BULLETIN
Monday, August 17, 1992
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NAFTA News Summary
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BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S SECRECY ON NAFTA CHALLENGED

U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-New York) issued a
statement criticizing the secrecy surrounding the details of the
North American Free Trade Agreement.  "If NAFTA is such a
good deal for the American people, why does the administration
insist that it would be a threat to our national security if they
were allowed to read it?" he asked.  U.S. Trade Representative
Carla Hills has said the full text would be released early next
month.  Moynihan said there is no reason to wait, arguing the
administration is keeping the text secret so it can "parcel out the
information as they please."  House Majority Leader Richard
Gephardt (D-Missouri) called on Bush to declassify the text.

Source: Stuart Auerbach, "Secrecy Is Challenged On Trade
Agreement," WASHINGTON POST, August  15, 1992.
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NAFTA'S UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN CANADA

The North American Free Trade Agreement is expected to pass
easily through Canada's Parliament where Prime Minister Brian
Mulroney's  Conservative Party has a sizable majority.  But as
the Conservatives and Mulroney continue to sag in opinion polls,
the future of the agreement is in jeopardy.

Opposition leaders have promised to make NAFTA an important
issue in the next federal election, which must be held by
November 1993.  Jean Chretien, leader of the Liberal Party and
ahead in the polls with 44 percent of the vote, says if elected he
will renegotiate the trade agreement.  Audrey McLaughlin, head
of the New Democratic Party and polling 16 percent, says she
would pull out of the treaty completely.  Mulroney says he's
confident he can regain the public's support, but polls reveal he
has only 12-16 percent of the vote when stacked against his
rivals.

In defense of NAFTA, Canadian Trade Minister Michael Wilson
has argued that NAFTA will benefit Canada.  "This isn't just a
trade deal.  It's a prosperity deal," he said.  "Canadians should be
confident that this agreement will eventually create more jobs,
better jobs," he said.  Wilson promoted the agreement in
speeches in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

The TORONTO STAR, Canada's largest newspaper, ran an editorial
Thursday criticizing the Canada-U.S. free trade deal as well as
the NAFTA.  "Canadians are still wondering what became of the
free-trade payoff they promised in 1988," the newspaper states.
"Before (Mulroney) enacts another deal with the Americans and
Mexicans, he should first seek a mandate from Canadians."

Source: Jeffrey Ulbrich, "Canada-Free Trade," AP, August 15,
1992; "Canada's Wilson Takes NAFTA Sales Pitch On The Road,"
REUTER, August 14, 1992.
_________________________________________________________
LATIN AMERICA'S MIXED REACTIONS TO NAFTA

The announcement of a completed NAFTA agreement led to
mixed reactions in Latin America.

Chile, which appears to be next in line for a free trade deal,
welcomed the announcement, saying it clears the way for Chile
to start talks immediately, and that it hopes to join the pact next
year.

Colombia also greeted NAFTA warmly.  President Cesar Gaviria
has indicated that Colombia is seeking to establish free trade
agreements with Mexico, Chile and eventually with the U.S.
Colombian exporters hope to gain access to NAFTA through
Mexico.

Argentine and Venezuelan government officials also appeared
receptive to the announcement, hoping that a hemispheric free
trade zone will soon follow.

Brazil and Central American countries were much less
enthusiastic.  Brazilian exporters said NAFTA could decrease the
volume of its trade with the U.S.  Coffee exporters, orange juice
manufacturers and the auto industry expressed much concern
about the deal.

El Salvador Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Pacas said access to the
North American market would stimulate El Salvador's production
and productivity, but he expressed concern that Central America
could suffer economically if greater access is not obtained.
Honduras Economy Minister also warned of problems, saying
that investment could drift from Central America to Mexico.

Source: Paul Mylrea, "NAFTA Trade Pact Causes Mixed Feelings
In Latin America," REUTER, August 14, 1992.
_________________________________________________________
__
GATT News Summary
_________________________________________________________
US-EC TRADE DEADLINE EXPIRES TUESDAY

The August 18 deadline for settling the U.S.-EC trade dispute
over oilseeds subsidies expires tomorrow.  The U.S. had promised
to impose punitive tariffs on $1 billion worth of EC imports if an
accord were not reached by the deadline, which would likely set
off a trade war.  The EC has indicated it would retaliate if the U.S.
follows through with the tariffs, but U.S. trade sources say they
doubt either side will act immediately.  "I think the deadline is
probably going to come and go," the source said.  "They are
talking in Geneva."

EC and U.S. negotiators have met many times this summer to
discuss the U.S. complaint that EC oilseed subsidies violate
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) rules.  GATT
panels have ruled in favor of the U.S. twice.  Most trade sources
said they expect the negotiations to continue at least until after
France's September 20 referendum on closer European unity.

Source: "U.S., EC Expected to Keep Talking on Oilseeds," REUTER,
August 14, 1992.
_________________________________________________________
LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES MEET OVER EC BANANA POLICY

Eight Latin American trade and agriculture ministers will meet
in Bogota, Colombia Tuesday to establish a joint position toward
the EC's banana policy.  In a statement, Colombia's Foreign Trade
Ministry said ministers from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and Colombia will "seek
a joint line of action towards the common banana policy which
the European Community plans to adopt from 1993 and which is
considered harmful to these nations."  The statement said the EC
plan, which sets a basic 1993 quota for Latin American bananas
of two million tons, threatens the conclusion of the Uruguay
Round of GATT talks.  The EC plan is designed to protect the
banana exports of former colonies in Africa, Asia and the
Caribbean.

Source: "Latin American Banana Producers Seek Joint Stance,"
REUTER, August 14, 1992.
_________________________________________________________
Other Trade News

1. The U.S. and China will begin high-level trade talks this week
in Beijing.  The U.S. has threatened to place high tariffs on a wide
range of Chinese goods if China does not agree to open its market
to U.S. products by October 10.  Ira Wolf, the new Assistant U.S.
Trade Representative, told the U.S. Senate several weeks ago that
China "like many Third World countries...has erected multiple,
overlapping non-tariff barriers, has prohibitively high tariffs in
many instances, and uses them to protect weak domestic
industries and control imports."  Many members of Congress
have called for trade sanctions against China until civil rights
reforms are made in the country, but the Bush Administration
has rejected such appeals.  Source: "Crucial Round of U.S. China
Trade Talks to Resume," REUTER, August 17, 1992.
_________________________________________________________
Produced by:
Kai Mander
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
1313 Fifth Street SE, Suite #303
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1546 USA

Telephone:[phone] Fax:[phone]
E-Mail:[e-mail]
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