Blast From The Past: House Approves U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Pact on 234 to 200 Vote (1993 Article)

[onpatrol98]

House Approves U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Pact on 234 to 200 Vote, Giving Clinton Big Victory

By Kenneth J. Cooper
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 18, 1993; Page A01

The House approved the North American Free Trade Agreement last night by a comfortable 234 to 200 vote, giving President Clinton a crucial victory after a bitter debate that crisscrossed party and ideological lines for most of the fall.

Clinton and his House allies came from behind to wipe out a substantial lead that NAFTA opponents held as the week began. A bipartisan coalition of 132 Republicans and 102 Democrats prevailed over the opposition of 156 Democrats, 43 Republicans and one independent.

Clinton, speaking from the White House and joined by Vice President Gore and members of the Cabinet, praised the bipartisan House vote: "Tonight I am proud to say we have not flinched. . . . We had to come from a long way back to win this fight." The president offered conciliatory words to his opponents and said NAFTA will "expand our exports, create new jobs and help us assert America's leadership in the global economy."

The five-volume agreement would create the world's largest free trade zone. Nearly all tariffs and other trade barriers among the United States, Mexico and Canada would come down over 15 years, beginning Jan. 1.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/trade/stories/tr111893.htm

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Makes me fucking sick. They open the borders for the rich to trade, and get richer...

but not for us to move to Canada.

Shitheads. May they rot in hell.

[blkmusclmachine]

2. And good times were right around the corner...

n/t

[chalky]

3. "expand our exports, create new jobs and help us assert America's leadership in the global economy."

Well, we know he's not psychic.

[lovuian]

4. the North American Union is right on schedule

I smell the Amero coming