The 100 Day Economic Agenda-Jeffrey E. Garten 1992/1993 "Another way to create a pro-growth environment would be
bold moves on the trade policy front. The immediate opportunity
is the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). With exports to Mexico soaring, with the
emergence of a $6 trillion North American economy of 360
million consumers, the aggressive pursuit of commercial opportunities
on our own continent is essential. The Clinton
team should move quickly to get the agreement ratified. The
new president has endorsed the treaty with some reservations
about the need for additional legislation for retraining and
environmental protection. These concerns, however, require
action in Congress, not renegotiation of the treaty.
Clinton should use the push for NAFTA as a ringing endorsement
of America's belief in an open trading system—where
Washington's focus will be on expanding markets abroad,
rather than protecting them at home. At the same time he has
the opportunity to show he is absolutely serious about the
retraining question, not just for people immediately displaced
by imports or by the movement of firms abroad, but also those
hurt by rapid technological change generally. There is no free
lunch, however, and the funds to finance training programs
will have to come at the expense of other existing programs,
most likely the defense budget." :check: