The White House

NAFTA Notes

Wednesday, October 13, 1993

President Places NAFTA in Larger Vision in Speech at UNC

• Setting out his vision of an America where its citizens have economic, personal and health security, President Clinton told an audience last evening at the University of North Carolina that the North American Free Trade Agreement is essential to make change work for our country.

"At a time when we know it's a matter of fact that every rich country in the world gains many new jobs through expanding trade, I see people saying, 'Well even though my industry will get more jobs, we shouldn't have a new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico which could one day engulf all of Latin America,'" the President said. "And when I listen to the arguments, I hear instead the grievances of the 1980's. The grievances of times when workers were fired without thought, when investments were not made, when people were abused. Instead of a reasoning argument about what will build America tomorrow, I hear a longing for yesterday.

"But I tell you my friends," the President concluded, "as certainly as it was true 200 years ago today, yesterday is yesterday. If we try to recapture it, we will only lose tomorrow."

President Praises Eminent Americans Joining Together to Support NAFTA

• Former Presidents Ford, Carter and Bush yesterday announced that they are "convening a small group of eminent persons to help Americans understand the true issues at stake in NAFTA." The Presidents stated their belief "that NAFTA represents a significant and positive step forward for the United States, for our relations with our neighbors, and for the world." They noted that the Administration's position on NAFTA would create the world's largest market, protect the environment, and provide assistance to those who will face change as a result of increased competition. "As Americans, we have nothing to fear from more competition and much to gain," they concluded. "America's future is best secured not when we retreat, but when we compete."
• Joining the Presidents supporting NAFTA include such notable Americans as: James Baker, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Lawrence Eagleburger, William Gates, Alexander Haig, Carla Hills, Lee Iacocca, Barbara Jordan, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Henry Kissenger, Juanita Kreps, Sol Linowitz, Lynn Martin, Robert Mosbacher, Edmund Muskie, Tip O'Neill, Michael Porter, George Schultz, Robert Strauss, Cyrus Vance, Paul Volker, Eddie Williams, and Andrew Young. President Clinton praised the group, stating: "These individuals have taken many paths to prominence, but they have come to the common conclusion that this trade pact is good for America and good for America's economic fortunes."

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