[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             REPEAL NAFTA!

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                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 11, 1995
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the NAFTA 
Withdrawal Act, legislation to pull the United States out of the North 
American Free-Trade Agreement [NAFTA].
  When I cast my vote against NAFTA, I did so knowing full well the 
devastating impact such an agreement would have on U.S. workers. To 
date, because of NAFTA, over 8,000 American workers have lost their 
jobs.
  Since NAFTA took effect, United States imports from Mexico have been 
increasing at a rate faster than United States exports to Mexico. This 
distinction is important because in order to create jobs, United States 
exports must be expanding faster than imports. This imbalance between 
imports and exports has cut the United States trade surplus with Mexico 
down to little more than $1 billion.
  Likewise, from January through July of last year, United States 
automakers exported about 22,000 vehicles to Mexico. The United States, 
however, imported 221,000 from Mexico--an imbalance of 199,000 vehicles 
in Mexico's favor. Moreover, in the short-time since NAFTA passed, 
Honda, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Samsung have all announced plans to 
build new or expanded production facilities in Mexico.
  In passing NAFTA, too many of my colleagues failed to see NAFTA for 
what it really was--a continuation of policies that have undermined the 
hard won benefits of our Nation's labor movement. Passage of the NAFTA 
Withdrawal Act is essential if we are to restore justice to the working 
people of America.


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