[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ESTABLISHING FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH PACIFIC RIM COUNTRIES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
encourage the establishment of free trade agreements between the United 
States and certain Pacific Rim countries.
  H.R. 1942 directs the President to initiate preliminary consultations 
with the governments of each eligible Pacific Rim country to determine 
the feasibility and desirability of negotiating the elimination of 
tariff and non-tariff barriers in the context of a bilateral free trade 
agreement. If a positive determination is made, the President shall 
request a meeting at the ministerial level to consider the conditions 
under which formal negotiations regarding a free trade agreement could 
be commenced. The countries that may be considered for eligibility are 
the members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Group (APEC.)
  Because open markets increase competition, eliminate inefficiencies, 
and result in lower costs to consumers and manufacturers, trade 
liberalizing agreements improve our prosperity and encourage the 
creation of secure, higher wage jobs. Sadly, the President's failure to 
support the passage of trade negotiating authority in this Congress has 
crippled the United States trade agenda and has brought a halt to the 
expansion of international markets for U.S. exports.
  This legislation responds to the President's inaction by calling on 
him to investigate opportunities for negotiating free trade agreements 
with long time U.S. allies in working to increase economic growth 
through trade liberalization, both in the World Trade Organization and 
in APEC. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, 
because of the largely open nature of their economies and their track 
record of supporting United States trade negotiating objectives, are 
countries which would be eligible immediately under the criteria 
established in this bill.
  Building closer ties and coordinating with countries whose interests 
are largely friendly to the United States will have immense payoffs as 
trade negotiations in APEC and the World Trade Organization proceed. 
Bilateral and multilateral trade agreement negotiations, such as the 
NAFTA, have been shown to exert constructive pressure on multilateral 
and regional trade negotiations. Bilateral trade talks enlarge common 
areas of agreement on trade rules and disciplines which can then be 
advanced more successfully in the context of larger negotiations among 
additional trading partners. This bill is all about finding 
opportunities wherever we can to break down barriers to United States 
exports and keep the trade agenda moving forward.
  The real advantage of this legislation is that it will improve and 
expand our trade ties with countries in the Pacific Rim region and 
reassure countries that the United States, despite the absence of trade 
negotiating authority, is not turning inward and adopting a trade 
policy defined by narrow and inward-looking special interests. H.R. 
1942 would direct the President to pursue aggressively more open, 
equitable, and reciprocal market access for United States goods and 
services. Continuing the pursuit of lower economic barriers and 
standardized rules and procedures governing international business will 
yield enormous benefits to our firms and workers. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in cosponsoring this important bill.

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