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

DATE: MONDAY, September 20, 1993                   TAG: 9403100005
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FIGHT BACK ON NAFTA

THE NORTH American Free Trade Agreement is losing steam in Congress. It's urgent, therefore, that President Clinton - notwithstanding all his other initiatives, including health care - win back the trade debate from the errant Democrats and cynical demagogues now dominating it.

The White House made a start last week. It lined up an impressive coalition of supporters, including former presidents, when Clinton signed environment- and labor-protecting side agreements.

But one day of pomp and ceremony won't be enough. The president will have to sustain a strong pitch, or the pact will die.

Part of the problem with selling NAFTA is that, as with any step toward freer international trade, there are winners and losers. This treaty will cost some jobs. Indeed, if it is approved, practically every job that goes to Mexico will no doubt be blamed on the agreement. Politicians as a result may be at some risk voting for it.

As it happens, lower trade barriers would also bring increases in American jobs, particularly in export industries. As every economic study of NAFTA has shown, the result would be a net gain in employment in the United States - and at higher wages on average than those associated with the lost jobs. These benefits, though, would be more long-term and broad-based; members of Congress are looking at the next election.

Compounding the difficulty in selling NAFTA has been the fact that the loudest voice most Americans have heard on it so far has been Ross Perot's. The Texan's attacks are riddled with falsehoods and laced with xenophobia, but they have touched sensitive spots in the national psyche, where economic uncertainty and fear fester.

Clinton is making the same mistake he made with his budget package: He is allowing the opposition to define the issue. Never mind that every living Nobel Prize economist supports NAFTA, and every living former president, and practically every governor.

The Perots and Jesse Jacksons and Pat Buchanans have commanded the airwaves with fear-mongering and economic nonsense, while the White House took a low profile and a majority of Democratic House members were pushed by unionists and environmentalists into opposing the treaty.

A counter-offensive from the White House is overdue.

by CNB