THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230583
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
U.S. foreign policy has entered a new era in which the end of the Cold War has led to a shift away from politics and security issues, and toward economic and trade concerns, a top Clinton adviser said Thursday night in a speech to the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads.
``Economics and commercial policy is really becoming the centerpiece of our foreign policy,'' said Jeffrey E. Garten, U.S. undersecretary of commerce for international trade.
Garten, speaking at the Armed Forces Staff College, said the new era for foreign policy is actually the third in American history.
During the first, the United States was ``commercially engaged'' with foreign nations but politically withdrawn. Then, beginning with World War II, America entered a four-decade period in which foreign policy was steered by Cold War political dialogue and national security concerns. In this latest era, Garten said, economics has moved from being a tool used to shape foreign policy - in the form of foreign aid - to a more pervasive influence over the future course of a nation's relationship with the United States.
Garten said the Clinton administration's focus on trade issues has led to a more concerted approach to dealing with specific trade deals and broader policies. Garten said that when President Clinton holds his impending summit with Boris Yeltsin, for instance, up to five hours of the planned six hours of talks will be on trade and investment.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has even established a ``war room'' to monitor trade opportunities around the world and mobilize negotiation more efficiently so U.S. companies can be more competitive in foreign contract bidding, Garten said.
Despite this newfound focus, the United States remains the world's only military superpower and must not lose sight of its historic role in furthering democracy around the world, Garten said.
``In the end,'' he said, ``the United States cannot be, should not be, a purely mercantile state.'' by CNB