President Clinton on Tuesday predicted passage of the free-trade agreement with Canada and Mexico despite a key Democrat's warning that up to three-fourths of House Democrats opposed the pact.
"I think in the end my position will prevail," Clinton said before a briefing on flood-relief efforts.The president, fresh from an 11-day vacation, was answering a warning from Rep. David Bonior, D-Mich, who said that "up to two-thirds to maybe 75 percent of the Democratic caucus in the House is opposed to this treaty."
Clinton says he wants Congress to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement by year's end.
But among the powerful opposition, headed by organized labor, are the second- and third-ranked Democrats in the House, Majority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri and Bonior, the majority whip.
Most Republicans support NAFTA, which was negotiated during the Bush administration. But some conservatives such as Pat Buchanan join Democrats in saying it will exacerbate the loss of American jobs to Mexico. Ross Perot is heading a nationwide campaign against the treaty.
Clinton said his strategy will be to ask legislators "to read the agreement and wait until they see the implementing legislation."
He added: "I think if that happens, we can prevail. Latin America is the second-fastest growing part of the world. Mexico is just the beginning of this process and I think it means more jobs for Americans."
Sen. Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., who met in Mexico Monday with President Carlos Salinas de Gortari said, "This is a bipartisan issue . . . I would hope President Clinton could get members of his own party to support him."
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch said the Republicans kicked off their lobbying in Mexico for the treaty, saying it "was important for us to come here and show leadership."
"This agreement will create the largest trading bloc in the world, with 370 million people and $6.5 trillion combined trade activity each year," Hatch said.