NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20/NN_1992_20.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/6439

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From: [e-mail] (Harel Barzilai)
Subject: TRADE NEWS 9/10/92
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[Sample via misc.activism.progressive from PeaceNet's trade.news]
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Topic 156       TRADE.NEWS 9-10-92
kmander Updates on GATT & NAFTA Negotiations     2:22 pm  Sep 10, 1992
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TRADE NEWS BULLETIN
Thursday, September 10, 1992
_________________________________________________________
NAFTA News Summary
_________________________________________________________
GEPHARDT CALLS FOR CHANGES IN NAFTA

Citing substandard environmental provisions and inadequate worker
retraining programs, U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt
(D-Missouri) called on the Bush Administration to renegotiate the
North American Free Trade Agreement or "leave it to the next
Administration to be written right."

While Gephardt emphasized his belief that a good free trade
agreement would benefit all sides, he declared that if changes are not
made in the current text, "Congress could not responsibly approve
the NAFTA agreement."  Gephardt said he believed the treaty is
extremely unpopular with the American people.  "To those who
believe that average Americans don't know their own interests, or
fail to appreciate the benefits of free trade theory, you are wrong,"
he said.  "The American people get it, this issue resonates with them,
and the NAFTA agreement is rapidly becoming, substantively and
symbolically, representative of everything that is wrong in their
lives economically." (Gephardt's speech can be found in trade.library).

Source: "Remarks of Congressman Richard A. Gephardt," NEWS FROM
THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, September 9, 1992; Keith Bradsher,
"Gephardt Criticizes Trade Pact," NEW YORK TIMES, September 10,
1992, p. C1; Peter Truell, "Gephardt Calls for Rewriting of Trade Pact,"
WALL STREET JOURNAL, September 10, 1992, p. A2.
____________________________________________________
CANADA PROMOTES NAFTA, RELEASES POLL

The Canadian government has begun a campaign to increase support
for NAFTA.  The government will spend C$3.1 million on a
nationwide media campaign to promote the treaty.  The campaign
kicked off last week with an advertising supplement in major
newspapers.  The advertisement included a statement from Trade
Minister Michael Wilson claiming, "The North American Free Trade
Agreement secures for us access to the world's wealthiest and largest
free trade area, at a time when our major competitors are moving
rapidly toward greater economic integration."

The government released a survey showing support for the free
trade deal at 41 percent in August, up from 29 percent in March.
However, only 14 percent of those supporting NAFTA said they
strongly support it.    Of the 53 percent of the respondents opposed
to NAFTA, 35 percent said they were strongly against it.  Seven
percent of respondents were unsure about the agreement.

Canada's GLOBE AND MAIL newspaper said the poll results indicate
that support is growing for NAFTA, but the TORONTO STAR
emphasized Canadian response to another question in the survey.
Sixty-five percent of those questioned said they consider NAFTA
"dangerous" because Canadians will have to compete against low-
wage Mexican workers.  Citing that statistic and the finding that only
29 percent of those polled accepted the federal government's view
that NAFTA improves the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement, the
STAR argued that there has been little change in overall opposition to
the treaty since March.

Source: Robert Kozak, "Canada Launches Campaign to Sell Free Trade
Pact," REUTER, September 8, 1992; Drew Fagan, "Support for NAFTA
Growing, Poll Says," GLOBE AND MAIL, September 5, 1992, p. B6;
"Trade Deal 'Dangerous,' 65% Say," TORONTO STAR, September 5,
1992.
_________________________________________________________
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS TO MEET OVER NAFTA

Customs officials from Canada, the United States and Mexico will
meet October 2 to develop common guidelines and regulations in
cross-border transactions in light of the North American Free Trade
Agreement.  The meeting in Minneapolis will focus on establishing
automatic cargo clearance programs on the U.S. northern and
southern borders.

Under the terms of the treaty, customs services will be responsible
for resolving some trade disputes and deciding whether companies
meet origin rules that determine if products qualify for preferential
treatment.

The U.S. Customs Service and a coalition of business groups are
urging the Senate Finance Committee to protect the Customs
Modernization Act from a presidential veto by separating it from a
trade package.  Without the bill, proponents argue, the most
extensive reorganization of the agency in decades will fail and
impede efforts to deal with increased global trade and cross border
transactions.  The bill provides the legal basis for the agency's
extensive automated cargo processing programs and sets new
policies for cargo seizures.

Source: Tim Shorrock, "North American Customs Officials to Meet Oct.
2 on Trade Accord," JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, September 4, 1992, p.
1B; Tim Shorrock, "Senate Committee Pressed to Protect Customs
Measure," JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, September 4, 1992, p. 1A.

[...]

_________________________________________________________
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]
_________________________________________________________