Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 9, 1991                   TAG: 9104090080
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HOUSTON                                LENGTH: Medium

BUSH, BUSINESS HEADS BACK MEXICO FREE TRADE

The president disputed arguments by opponents who believe a free-trade pact with Mexico will cost American jobs and degrade environmental and worker-safety standards.

He emphasized "Mexico's market potential - 85 million consumers who want to buy our goods."

As Mexico becomes more prosperous, "It will need even more of the goods we're best at producing - computers, manufacturing equipment, high-tech and high-value products," Bush told a breakfast meeting of Hispanic business and professional leaders.

"As we prepare to join a world linked primarily by economic, not military competition, we have nothing to fear but the fearmongers themselves," he said.

"They seem to be the only ones who haven't learned lately that defeatism produces defeat, while confidence and self-reliance produce greatness."

Bush was seeking to appeal to national pride, as boosted by the war against Iraq, without making any direct reference to the conflict, an aide said. Americans can expect Bush to use the same linkage approach with other issues, the official said.

Monday's speech was Bush's first point-by-point rebuttal to the criticisms coming from Congress and labor, environmental, industry and agricultural interests who are worried about the impact of removing trade barriers with Mexico.

Bush is seeking congressional authority to negotiate a trade pact with Mexico similar to the free-trade arrangement with Canada.

He is asking for a guarantee that Congress will not amend whatever agreement is negotiated but will simply vote it up or down, but acknowledged, "We've got a tough fight ahead of us."

The heads of mid-sized U.S. companies overwhelmingly favor such a free-trade agreement with Mexico, according to the findings of a survey released Monday.

The American Business Conference, in a survey of its 100 members, found that 92 percent supported a free-trade agreement with Mexico. Eight percent had no opinion.

"None were against it," said Barry Rogstad, president of the conference, which is made up of chief executives of fast-growing companies with annual revenues of at least $25 million or income growth at least double the rate of the economy's real growth.