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UAW President Stephen P. Yokich Calls Trade Numbers a Wake-Up Call

20 July 1999

UAW President Stephen P. Yokich Calls Trade Numbers a Wake-Up Call

    DETROIT, July 20 -- UAW President Stephen P. Yokich today
called the $26.9 billion U.S. trade deficit for May, a new one-month record,
a wake-up call for the Administration, Congress and the American people.
    "Those who think U.S. trade policy is working just fine need to take a
long, hard look at the trade figures released today by the Department of
Commerce," said Yokich.  "And those who think trade deficits no longer matter
in the 'new economy' need to talk with a few of the thousands of American
workers who have lost their jobs as a result of NAFTA and other free-trade
schemes that put the interests of multinational corporations and investors
first, and the interests of America and working people second."
    In the first five months of 1999, the U.S. trade deficit soared to
$121.5 billion -- a third higher than last year's five-month total.  If the
current pace continues, the 1999 trade deficit could reach $300 billion
-- a stunning $70 billion above last year's record level.
    Yokich noted that, through May of this year, automotive trade accounted
for fully fourth-fifths ($16.9 billion) of the $21.1 billion U.S. trade
deficit with its NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, and for nearly
three-fifths ($16 billion) of the $27.3 billion U.S. trade deficit with
Japan.
    "The growing U.S. automotive trade deficit, especially with our NAFTA
trading partners, underscores the importance of the issues of job and
income security and outsourcing in this year's national negotiations with
General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler," said Yokich.
    "At the same time, we will be pushing the Clinton-Gore Administration to
address the automotive trade deficit through international negotiations and
the vigorous use of U.S. trade laws," the UAW leader continued.  "Both
approaches will be necessary to address the trade problems facing workers in
the U.S. automotive industry."
    Citing China's $23.7 billion trade deficit through the first five
months of 1999 together with China's systematic repression of basic human
and worker rights, discriminatory auto and aerospace industrial policies,
and repeated failures to honor previous trade commitments, Yokich also
urged Congress not to renew China's Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
    "Until China demonstrates compliance with WTO rules, with existing
trade agreements, and with internationally recognized human and worker
rights, there is no justification for the U.S. to renew China's NTR status
much less to support China's accession to the World Trade Organization,"
said Yokich.