[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.