Bill Clinton: “On NAFTA I think we can pass it with a very concerted effort if the Congress has some assurances on the environmental…”

“On NAFTA I think we can pass it with a very concerted effort if the Congress has some assurances on the environmental and labor issues. Keep in mind, the United States--as far as I know, no country has ever signed a trade agreement which--also an investment agreement, which--at least millions of Americans feel is an investment agreement that would encourage people to invest in another country for production in our market, not in theirs. And so that is the tension here that--I keep arguing to the American people that that could happen anyway, that under our present law, people, if they choose, can go and produce in Mexico for the American market. But that causes great tension here when we've had 20 years of virtually flat wages for middle class working people. I believe NAFTA will create jobs and raise incomes in both the United States and Mexico, and I think it will help Canada. I have always believed that over the long run, the integration of our three economies and the potential that gave us to continue to move south into other market economies in Chile and Argentina and Venezuela and others was enormous. And I think eventually we'll get there. But it is going to be a very tough fight. Ross Perot”