Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 6, 1993 TAG: 9307060086
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By From The Chicago Tribune and The Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Addressing the National Education Association convention in San Francisco before leaving for the Group of Seven summit in Tokyo, Clinton called for a meeting soon of the group's leading economists and labor ministers to develop a plan to fight unemployment.
Clinton said experts should question how slumping economies can create jobs, how workers can prepare for them and how to ensure that good jobs will be available for the next generation.
He also pledged that the United States would tackle trade battles head on.
"We simply have to compete, not retreat, and we have to do it while maintaining our position of world leadership," Clinton said.
The president said he is going into the economic summit with his hand greatly strengthened by a plan to We simply have to compete, not retreat, and we have to do it while maintaining our position of world leadership. President Clinton On U.S. economic policy slash America's deficit by $500 billion through tax increases and spending cuts.
"This deficit is like a bone in our throat," Clinton complained. He said that for years, allies have been telling American presidents, "Your government deficit is messing up the whole works. Don't tell us to change until you change."
"Well, guess what? I'm going to be able to go for the first time in a decade and say, `We're changing. Now you must change too. Work with us. Let's put some jobs back in this global economy,' " he said.
Clinton also said his Tokyo trip is designed to "send a message" that America intends to be heavily involved in the Asia-Pacific region, which he described as "bursting with energy and entrepreneurship; with new ventures, new markets and new growth."
Forty percent of U.S. trade is with the region, accounting for $120 billion in exports and 2.3 million jobs, he said.
While the relationships with the countries of the region are largely a source of mutual benefit, he singled out the trade deficits with Japan, which ran at $50 billion last year as a special point of dispute.
Acknowledging persistent trade friction with Tokyo, Clinton said the trade deficit with Japan "is real, unacceptable and we're working very hard to take some steps with Japan to deal with that."
An American negotiating team arrived in Tokyo late Monday for talks today aimed at establishing a broad framework agreement with the Japanese.
Clinton and Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa had pledged to reach such an agreement in April, but negotiations broke off last week with both sides far apart. The U.S. team was dispatched to Tokyo for a last-minute negotiating effort after Miyazawa wrote Clinton offering changes in Japan's position.
by CNB