University of Oregon economist Ray Mikesell, who helped lay the early groundwork for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), dismisses current criticisms of the agreement as nonsense. Mikesell predicts that President Clinton will win his battle to preserve the free trade pact. NAFTA opponents have threatened to rescind the president's ability to place trade agreements on the "fast track," a policy that allows the administration to limit Congress' ability to make changes in the agreements. "NAFTA is working fine. The people who argue against it really oppose the principles of free trade," Mikesell contends. Environmentalists argue that NAFTA doesn't contain adequate safeguards. Mikesell says the agreement, instead, improves environmental protection because it provides a real opportunity for the United States to influence questionable practices by our trading partners. Mikesell disagrees with labor groups that claim NAFTA costs jobs. Instead, he argues, NAFTA has allowed the U.S. to trade poor jobs for better, higher paying jobs. Mikesell says President Clinton may have to make some concessions to preserve his right to unilaterally negotiate trade agreements, but predicts the president will win the battle. SOURCE: Ray Mikesell, UO professor emeritus of economics, (541) 343-4269 (home); (541) 346-4659 (office); e-mail <mikesell@oregon.uoregon.edu> -30- #T-1035/Day