NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/10423

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Subject: TRADE.NEWS 1-26-93
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TRADE NEWS BULLETIN Volume II Number 15
Tuesday,  January 26,  1993
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GATT News Summary
__________________________________________________
US, EC OFFICIALS TO MEET FEBRUARY 11

European Community External Economic Affairs Commissioner Leon
Brittan and new U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor will meet
for the first time February 11.  Brittan had originally hoped to meet
with Kantor this week, but the meeting was delayed to allow Kantor
time to assemble his negotiating team.  Some in the U.S. have accused
Brittan of pressuring Kantor for a quick meeting before Kantor is
fully prepared.

Source: Nancy Dunne, "U.S. and EC Negotiators Make a Date,"
FINANCIAL TIMES, January 20, 1993.
__________________________________________________
U.S.-JAPAN TENSIONS LEAD TO TALK OF ASIAN COOPERATION

Japan has threatened retaliation if the U.S. revives the Super 301
trade statute, and U.S. auto-makers are calling for punitive tariffs on
all imported cars.  The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
claims "the Japanese economy remains under-penetrated by foreign
firms," and U.S. President Bill Clinton's administration is trying to
figure out how to reverse the Bush Administration's approval of a
Japanese firm's purchase of a U.S. computer equipment company.
The U.S. and the EC, both major grain exporters, continue to criticize
Japan's ban on rice imports, while Japan is becoming increasingly
frustrated with the uncertainty surrounding Clinton's trade policy.  "I
want to go to the U.S. to discuss (trade) with my counterpart, but
there is no counterpart," one Japanese trade official said.

In the midst of these tensions, Japanese cooperation with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been proposed to
counter other regional trade blocs, such as the EC and the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and as a means to work
jointly for a successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The ASEAN nations of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the
Philippines and Brunei have initiated the ASEAN Free Trade Area
(AFTA), with the goal of reducing mutual tariffs on all non-
agriculture goods to five percent or lower within 15 years.  Currently
about five percent of all ASEAN trade is conducted within the AFTA
bloc.  Under AFTA, countries are allowed to exclude industries they
want to protect.

Meanwhile, Japanese farmers are seeking worldwide support for
their opposition to rice imports. The Central Union of Agricultural
Cooperatives (Zenchu) plans to host the world's first "farmers'
summit" in Tokyo. The summit will coincide with the July 7-9 annual
meting of the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized
countries.

Source:  Paul Blustein, "Japanese Official Warns of Trade Retaliation;
Minister Says Nation Would Act If Clinton Unilaterally Imposes
Sanctions," WASHINGTON POST , January 26, 1993; Jacob M.
Schlesinger, "Japan Trade Official Urges Retaliation If U.S. Revives
Law Requiring Sanctions," WALL STREET JOURNAL, January 26, 1993;
Keith Bradsher, "Detroit to Seek Punitive Duties on Car Imports," NEW
YORK TIMES, January 26, 1993; "U.S. Tries to Reopen Japan Deal,"
REUTER, January 25, 1993; Kartini Abd. Kadir," Call to Make Joint
Appeal for GATT Talks Success," BUSINESS TIMES, January 21, 1993;
Kieran Cooke, William Keeling, Jose Galang, Victor Mallet, "ASEAN
Free Trade Zone Sputters Into Action," FINANCIAL TIMES, January
26, 1993; "Japanese Farmers Plan Agricultural Summit in Tokyo,"
REUTER, January 25, 1993.
__________________________________________________
NAFTA News Summary
__________________________________________________
WILSON: HEMISPHERIC FTA BY YEAR 2000 UNLIKELY

Canadian Trade Minister Michael Wilson recently said the creation of
a hemispheric trade bloc stretching from Alaska to Chile is unlikely
in this decade.  According to Wilson, some southern governments are
not yet prepared to implement the economic reforms required to join
the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement between
Canada, Mexico and the U.S.  He predicted Chile would be the first to
join.

Wilson cited current trade barriers as an impediment to freer trade,
and said intra-regional agreements such as the Andean Pact and
Mercosur must "move to a higher state of fruition," before they could
join NAFTA.

Source: Gary Regenstreif, "Canada Sees Hemispheric Trade Pact
Unlikely Soon," REUTER, January 25, 1993.
__________________________________________________
TEAMSTERS MAKE TRADE TOP PRIORITY

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters recently listed fair trade
among its top five political action priorities.  Citing Clinton's campaign
statement that there would be no new trade agreement with Mexico
unless it would "require the Mexicans in return for increasing trade
to raise their labor standards and raise their environmental
standards," the Teamsters list the following priorities: "Withdraw
George Bush's North American Free Trade Agreement; Negotiate
international trade agreements that will close the gap in wages and
environmental and consumer standards between the U.S. and
countries like Mexico; and rescind Bush's order requiring states to
honor Mexican commercial drivers licenses."

Source: "Putting People First: New Teamsters Political Action To Focus
on Five Key Issues," NEW TEAMSTERS NEWS.
__________________________________________________
Produced by:
Hannah Holm
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
1313 Fifth Street SE, Suite #303 Minneapolis, MN 55414-1546 USA
Telephone:[phone] Fax:[phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]
_________________________________________________________