North American Free Trade Agreement

House Majority Leader Rep. Richard Gephardt addressed a luncheon audience at the Institute for International Economics on the progress of the negotiations concerning the North American Free Trade Agreement, a proposed international trade agreement that would lower trade barriers between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Rep. Gephardt expressed his concern over the current state of the North American Free Trade Agreement for failing to account for issues affecting people in all three countries, including human rights and environmental concerns. Following his prepared remarks, Rep. Gephardt responded to questions from members of the audience. Mr. Edson responded to Rep. Gephardt’s address with a defense of the goals and progress of negotiations concerning the North American Free Trade Agreement, and stated the agreement would have a positive impact on people and companies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Mr. Hufbauer and Mr. Schott, authors of a study on the North American Free Trade Agreement close