BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 



98 



3 9999 05018 420 7 



A recently released study by the Canadian-American Commit- 

 tee, a bi-national group of prominent business, labor, agricul- 

 tural, and academic leaders which is co-sponsored by the Toronto- 

 based C. D. Howe Institute and the Washington-based National 

 Planning Association, said the negotiators of the side agreements 

 on labor and the environment have a difficult challenge ahead. 



The study made the following important points that I would 

 like to draw to your attention: 



* "Too forceful a position in favor of a maximal approach 

 to labor and environmental issues could gut the trade 

 liberalization provisions of the NAFTA or cause it to 

 collapse altogether." 



* "People who are enthusiastic about raising labor and 

 environmental standards in North America - and particu- 

 larly in Mexico - should be mindful of the importance 

 of strong commercial relations in achieving those 



ends . " 



* "The closer ties between the three countries as a 

 result of the NAFTA will increase the mutual interest 

 in domestic policies, even to the point of an American 

 equivalent to the European Community's 'Social 

 Charter' . But it cautions against agreements that could 

 become potent weapons in the hands of protectionists, 

 or that could undermine each country's flexibility in 

 dealing with distinctive labor and environmental is- 

 sues. " 



