Bill Clinton: “We want to make some real progress on these very thorny trade difficulties that have proved to be so resistant to…”

“We want to make some real progress on these very thorny trade difficulties that have proved to be so resistant to change. And you know that the framework of our debate has been pretty well explored in the press. But I think we've got a real shot to reach an agreement here, and we're going to keep working on it. I think the Japanese are very sensitive about the kinds of economic pressures that are now on them that are somewhat new and different in the last couple of years. And I think both of us recognize that there will have to be an evolution in not only our relationship but in the whole balance of global trade if we're going to have sustained global growth, which is what is in the interest of Japan and the United States. We can't really hope to maintain high levels of growth and high levels of incomes in our jobs unless we get a much more brisk rate of growth throughout the world. And if you look at the whole history of the post- World War II era, it indicates that. If you look at where our jobs have come from in the United States just in the last 5 or 6 years, that's indicated about two-thirds of our new jobs being tied to trade. So it's obvious that we have to have a much higher rate of global growth. Thank you very much.”