    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [November 23, 1994]
    [Page 2124]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
    November 23, 1994

        Good morning. Today we have moved one step closer toward gaining
    broad bipartisan support for GATT. I'm pleased to announce that an
    understanding has been reached with Senator Dole to reaffirm our United
    States sovereignty and to make sure that the reaffirmation will be
    protected in the GATT process. That means that the WTO will be
    accountable and fair and will meet our expectations.
        The Uruguay round is the largest, most comprehensive trade agreement
    in world history. It creates hundreds of thousands of high-paying
    American jobs. It slashes tariffs on manufactured and agricultural
    goods. It protects intellectual property. It's the largest international
    tax cut in history. Most importantly, this agreement requires all
    trading nations to play by the same rules. And since the United States
    has the most productive and competitive economy in the world, that is
    good news for our workers and our future.
        For the past 50 years, our country has led the world to create a
    more open and a more prosperous trading economy. A bipartisan vote in
    support of the Uruguay round next week will ensure that we will lead the
    world for decades to come.
        I want to express my deep thanks to Senator Dole, to Senator
    Packwood, Senator Moynihan, who are here, and ask them to speak. I thank
    Ambassador Kantor for his heroic work in this endeavor and the Secretary
    of the Treasury, Secretary of State for what they have done. The
    Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury and I are going to
    have to excuse ourselves to go meet with the Mexican President-elect,
    President Zedillo.
        I also want to make a brief announcement today. As part of our
    ongoing nonproliferation efforts, Kazakhstan has delivered into our
    security nuclear materials capable of making some 20 nuclear weapons.
    That means that one more threat of nuclear terrorism and proliferation
    has been removed from the world. Today--this is a good day--we are
    making progress toward making our people more secure and more
    prosperous.
        Again, let me say how excited I am about the prospect of the GATT
    round passing the Congress and to express my appreciation to Senator
    Dole for the very constructive working relationship that we have had.
    I'd like now to excuse the Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury
    and ask the others who are here to make some comments, beginning with
    Senator Dole.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:07 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House.