    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 32 (Monday, August 16, 1993)]
    [Pages 1613-1614]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on North American Free Trade Agreement Supplemental Accords

     August 13, 1993

        I am pleased that the United States, Mexico, and Canada have reached
    agreement on the supplemental accords to the North American Free Trade
    Agreement.
        Last fall, I pledged that I would not submit NAFTA to Congress until
    my administration addressed shortfalls in the areas of environmental
    protection, worker rights, and import surges. Early this morning we
    fulfilled that promise. Today I pledge my strongest commitment to a
    major effort this fall to secure NAFTA's passage.
        With the completion of the side accords, we have turned NAFTA into a
    pathbreaking trade agreement. NAFTA is strongly in the interest of the
    United States. This agreement helps our workers, our environment, our
    businesses, and our consumers.
        With these agreements on environmental quality and labor standards,
    the North American Free Trade Agreement has become a fair trade
    agreement as well.

    [[Page 1614]]

        NAFTA will create thousands of high paying American jobs by
    unlocking access to Mexico, a growing market of 90 million people that
    thirst for American products and services. The old rules marked by high
    trade barriers and preferences for companies manufacturing in Mexico
    have been pushed aside. In their place NAFTA establishes a level playing
    field, low tariffs, and a tough mechanism for resolving environmental
    and labor problems.
        NAFTA is part of my broad economic strategy to gear the American
    economy for a changing world, to channel change for the benefit of
    working men and women. I look forward to working with the Congress and
    the American people to make NAFTA a reality.