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STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE JIM NUSSLE 



HEARING ON THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT 

 MARCH 17, 1993 



Thank you Mr. Chairman for calling this hearing today. And 

 thank you Ambassador Kantor for coming here to share the 

 Administration's views on the North American Free Trade 

 Agreement . 



There has been a good deal of public speculation recently 

 about the success of a NAFTA and whether Congress will support 

 the current agreement. I support the NAFTA as it currently 

 stands because I believe the long-term benefits of the current 

 proposal are extremely positive for the United States. 



As we move toward a global economy, promoting free and fair 

 trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico must be a 

 critical component of our economic plan. I might also add that 

 coming from the State of Iowa, where sales to Mexico and Canada 

 account for more than one-third of Iowa's total exports, the 

 NAFTA is especially important. Moreover, NAFTA also opens the 

 door for increased exports of value-added products, which will 

 help many states like Iowa increase its value-added exports which 

 are so important to our nation's domestic economy. 



Finally, I look forward to hearing more details this morning 

 on the supplemental agreements for labor, environment and import 

 surges that the Administration plans to begin negotiating. I 

 would caution the Administration, however, not to push for any 

 supplemental agreements that would seriously undermine the NAFTA 

 proposal currently on the table. 



Thank you again Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing today. 



