U.S. Officials Seek NAFTA ‘Clarifications’ to Up Support

While ruling out renegotiation of the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement, two top U.S. officials said here Monday that unspecified “clarifications” are being contemplated to reassure opponents in the United States.

“We’re not going to go back and renegotiate this treaty. That’s not going to happen,” said Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), a strong NAFTA supporter who met here Sunday with Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. “But there are clarifications that I think can be made.”

Both Dodd and U.S. Ambassador James R. Jones declined to detail what adjustments could be forthcoming. They presumably are outlined in letters agreed to by the two nations.

At a news conference at the U.S. Embassy here, the two NAFTA proponents hinted at a range of intense, behind-the-scenes maneuvers designed to sell the agreement to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Both countries will be able to work out some clarifications and verifications that will be satisfactory to important sectors,” said Jones, a former longtime congressman from Oklahoma.

Specifically, others indicated that the Clinton Administration is making strenuous efforts to win over sugar and citrus producers concerned that lifting restrictions on Mexican imports may undercut domestic production. Lobbyists for the two industries, reached Monday in the United States, indicated that NAFTA clarifications could quell their fears.

“If we can be accommodated in this, we would no longer oppose NAFTA,” said Bobby F. McKown, executive vice president of Florida Citrus Mutual, a large growers cooperative.

Such steps could free Florida’s 23-member congressional delegation to vote for NAFTA without offending two of the state’s most important industries.

While Mexican authorities are anxious to see the pact in place by Jan. 1 as scheduled, Salinas has adamantly ruled out any form of renegotiation.

To avoid defeat of the pact in a crucial House vote in mid-November, two other leading NAFTA backers in Washington on Monday called for much stronger actions by President Clinton to win over wavering members of Congress.

Accusing Clinton of doing a “pathetic” sales job for the three-way trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada, House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich predicted it will be defeated unless 100 or more House Democrats vote for it. The Georgia Republican said pro-NAFTA Democrats now number no more than 60 to 65.

NAFTA’s chances slipped further Monday when 27 conservative House Republicans threatened to withdraw their backing unless the Administration dropped a proposal to raise $2.3 billion in international transportation taxes over five years to replace lost tariff income.

In a letter to President Clinton originated by Rep. Thomas Ewing (R-Ill.), and including Gingrich among the signers, the lawmakers said:

“It would be difficult for many of us to support a NAFTA which includes tax increases. While revenue from the increased economic activity generated from the NAFTA should be more than enough to offset any lost tariff revenue, if an offset is needed, we should cut spending rather than raise taxes.”

The New York Times quoted an unidentified Administration official as saying Trade Representative Mickey Kantor would assure Congress that no final decision on the taxes had been made.

Separately, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Clinton needs to operate more like the late President Lyndon B. Johnson and instill fear in Democrats who are deciding whether to vote against the agreement. NAFTA has split House Democrats. Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt is in the front ranks of the opposition while Speaker Thomas S. Foley is backing the President.

Times staff writers William J. Eaton and James Gerstenzang in Washington contributed to this report.