NAFTA NOTES 

Wednesday, September 15, 1993

	* This will be the first of a series of daily briefings on the
administration's campaign to approve NAFTA.

NAFTA Kick-Off

	* President Clinton strode into the packed East Room of the
White House with former Presidents Bush, Carter and Ford on
Tuesday to launch a vigorous, administration-wide campaign to
fight for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  In
strong remarks, he defined the debate -- that we will only
generate jobs by competing, not retreating -- by stating "this
debate about NAFTA is a debate about whether we will embrace
these changes and create the jobs of tomorrow, or try to resist
these changes, hoping we can preserve the economic structures of
the past."

	Addressing the concerns of those who fear the effects of NAFTA,
the President stated, "it is clear that most of the people that
oppose this pact are rooted in the fears and insecurities that
are legitimately gripping the great American middle class.  It
is no use to deny that these fears and insecurities exist.  It
is no use denying that many of our people have lost in the
battle for change.  But it is a great mistake to think that
NAFTA will make it worse.  Every single solitary thing you hear
people talk about that they're worried about can happen whether
this trade agreement passes or not, and most of them will be
made worse if it fails." 

	* The event -- attended by over 300 guests including nine state
governors and sixty members of Congress, as well as business and
community leaders from around the country --showed that support
for NAFTA is picking up steam.  Former Presidents Bush, Carter
and Ford each spoke to the gathering in a demonstration of the
bipartisan support for NAFTA. 

	* The pact was also endorsed by major environmental groups
including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Audobon
Society, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife
Federation, and the World Wildlife Federation.  In endorsing the
NAFTA and the side accords, Environmental Defense Fund executive
director Fred Krupp stated, "[f]or the first time we have
specific commitments in a trade agreement to improve enforcement
of environmental laws and cooperation on environmental problem
solving in North America."

NAFTA Fact

	* Due to present Mexican laws, American automobile
manufacturers must produce most cars that they sell in Mexico,
keeping present U.S. auto exports to Mexico under 1,000.  After
NAFTA, these companies expect to sell 60,000 American-made cars
to Mexico in the first year alone.