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Clinton Discusses Drugs, Trade With Mexican President

Fast track trade authority isn't a dead issue, Clinton says

clinton

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Nov. 14) -- Meeting with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, President Bill Clinton called for joint U.S.-Mexico cooperation to fight drugs, and expressed confidence that Congress would approve a revised fast-track trade bill.

The Mexican leader arrived Thursday, dining with Clinton at the White House. In addition to talks today covering trade, the environment, drugs, and immigration issues, the two presidents were expected to sign an agreement targeting gun trafficking.

Though unable to muster enough votes for his fast-track trade proposal last week, Clinton expressed confidence he could offer a new proposal acceptable to balking Democrats and Republicans.

"This is not the last chapter of the story," Clinton told reporters at the White House, as Zedillo, a free-trade proponent, listened. "I think we'll see some movement early next year. We'll work hard on this over the holidays."

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With Mexico replacing Japan as the United States' second-largest trading partner after Canada, Zedillo told U.S. business leaders on Thursday he hoped free trade can be expanded throughout the Western hemisphere.

On illegal narcotics, Clinton said, "The problem is not the transit of drugs but the production of drugs. We have to work together to reduce demand."

A conference is in the works for March in El Paso, Texas, where drug fighters from both countries will assess strategies to reduce the demand for drugs.



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