84 



You have been very kind to sit very patiently and listen to a lot 

 of concerns as well as questions. I don't share quite the optimism 

 of my friend from Kansas. I and most of my district — we have for 

 the most part unskilled labor. I don't think there is any question 

 that those people will be in jeopardy as far as their jobs are con- 

 cerned. Those plants that do stay in the United States with un- 

 skilled labor I think will be at a disadvantage to those that moved 

 to Mexico or to plants that may be in Mexico because of the cost 

 of labor. 



As I have stated with regard to many of our agricultural prod- 

 ucts in which we do have import limits, I am concerned about the 

 enforcement. I have to say that you do give me some comfort with 

 regard to the language. I do want to talk to Secretary Bentsen to 

 see if we can get some comfort and some commitments with regard 

 to the enforcement, if that should go through, because I think that 

 is going to be critical as far as our aericultural industry is con- 

 cerned. 



But I am particularly perturbed at many of those who are advo- 

 cating this package. They're talking about the real benefits coming 

 about 10 years down the road. In many of our areas — certainly in 

 my district — the economy is so precarious that if we have to wait 

 10 years for something good to happen, we are in deep trouble. We 

 need particular attention focused on that transition period. I am 

 very encouraged that the President of the United States has indi- 

 cated that he does want to move in that direction. And certainly 

 for those who are unskilled, he does want to try to address that 

 and deal with that problem. For that, I certainly want to commend 

 him. 



I appreciate you working with us and I appreciate your attitude 

 and your efforts on our behalf I am hopeful that we will in fact 

 be able to call this a true free-trade agreement in the future. As 

 you pointed out, it is not really that as it stands today. But I think 

 all of us in agriculture understand that it is to our best interest 

 to have a true free-trade agreement. 



Ambassador Kantor. Thank you. 



Mr. English. With that, I want to thank you, Mr. Ambassador, 

 and we look forward to working with you in the future. 



Ambassador Kantor. Thank you. I appreciate it. 



Mr. English. With that, we will recess subject to the call of the 

 Chair. 



[Whereupon, at 1 p.m., the committee was adjourned, to recon- 

 vene, subject to the call of the Chair.] 



[Material submitted for inclusion in the record follows:] 



