No American will be left behind by our participation in the global economy. My second initiative is to secure passage of the TAA this year. My third priority is to keep markets open in the troubled Southeast Asian countries. I support IMF assistance of the nations in crisis. But as part of the economic reforms that the IMF requires, we must insist that the Asian countries open their markets to our exports.
Countries have a natural inclination to close their markets in time of crisis.
But this only accelerates the downward spiral they find themselves in. For their own good, they should resist the temptation to raise trade barriers. Also, some of these countries will attempt to increase their exports to our market in order to help their economies. If that's the case, they have a moral obligation to open their markets to our exports. And I will work to make sure that happens.