Radio Address to the
Nation on International Trade
My
fellow Americans:
I'd
like to talk to you today about our nation's trade policy. I can't think of a
recent economic issue that has generated more heat and less light, yet has more
importance to our long-term national interest, than trade.
Throughout
the 7 years I've been in office, professional doomsayers have latched onto one
issue after another as evidence of an American decline. They can't seem to
acknowledge the obvious good news that surrounds us -- the low inflation, the
over 15 million new jobs since November 1982, and the longest peacetime
economic expansion of the century. Trade is only the most recent subject of
lamentation by our critics. For them, our trade deficit is an excuse for
getting the Government more involved in private business decisions. They say
that Americans can't compete with foreign workers, so we should slow imports by
erecting protectionist trade barriers. As usual, the doom merchants are wrong.
The
Let's
clear up a few myths. First, the trade situation is improving far more quickly
than people realize. Economists may disagree on the impact of the trade
imbalance, but there is no disagreement that there has been a remarkable
turnaround in the real trade deficit. Since the third quarter of 1986, the
merchandise trade deficit in real terms has declined 18 percent. And over the
past 15 months, the volume of exports has grown over 4 times as fast as the
volume of imports. Clearly, we are in an export boom. American industries, particularly
manufacturers, are setting records. Unfortunately, there's a threat to all this
good news. I'm talking about the trade bill pending in Congress. Adopting
protectionist measures and starting trade wars now would be like closing the
barn door just as the horse is trying to get back in. The best way to keep our
exports growing is to keep international trade expanding. And that brings me to
another myth: that Congress can pass a law that will reduce the trade deficit
without destroying our prosperity. Legislation can reduce a trade deficit only
if it reduces economic activity. If people are not working, they're not
trading. We had a trade surplus and 25-percent
unemployment in the Great Depression.
A
protectionist trade bill is a serious threat to our export boom. It's a serious
threat to the millions of American jobs that depend upon international trade.
It is filled with scores of provisions that are protectionist and defeatist. My
veto pen is ready if the final bill remains antitrade, anticonsumer,
antijobs, and antigrowth. However, the administration
is willing to work diligently with Congress to produce a bill that would
increase our international competitiveness and complement our efforts to
promote trade, exports, jobs, and productivity, not stymie them.
All
those working on the bill should take a deep breath, take another look at the
trade outlook, and work together in a constructive spirit. It is still possible
to write a bill that I can sign. Indeed, I'm encouraged by reports on the
status of the trade bill negotiations. The conference committee working on the
final draft of the bill has already eliminated a number of troublesome
provisions, including illegal quotas, budget-busting giveaways, and
protectionist measures. Many objectionable provisions remain, including
proposed procedural changes in the law, but I'm hopeful that in the next phase
these will be jettisoned. Only wholesale elimination of many of the existing
items will produce a bill I can sign.
Regardless
of whether I sign trade legislation this year, we will continue our free and
fair approach to trade policy. We will challenge unfair trade practices of
other countries in order to achieve a level playing field for American
industries. We will negotiate to knock down trade barriers on a bilateral or
multilateral basis. In that regard, we will seek early enactment of the
U.S.-Canada free trade agreement and push for concrete progress in the upcoming
Until
next week, thanks for listening, and God bless you.
Note: The President
spoke at