Evening star., 1962-01-11
TEXT
Kennedy Asks Action
On Trade Legislation
Continued From Page A-6

Continued From Page AS
The Reciprocal Trade Act is ex-
piring. We need a new lava
wholly new approach--a bold
new instrument of American
trade policy. Our decision could
well affect the unity Of the
West, the course of the cold
war and the growth Of our Ma
tion for a generation or more
to come.
If we move decisively, our
factories and farms can in
crease their sales to their rich
est, fastest = growing m arke t.
Our exports will increase. Our
balance of payments position
will improve. And we will have
forged across the Atlantic a
trading partnership with vast
resources for freedom.
If, on the other hand, we
hang back in difference to local
economic preSSures, we will find
ourselves cut off from our major
allies. Industries will move their
plants and jobs and capital in
side the walls of the Common
Market. if they cannot other
wise compete for its consumers.
Our farm surpluses will pile up.
Our balance Of payments posi-
ton will worsen. Our consumers
will lack a wider choice of goods
at lower prices. And millions of
American workers-whose jobs
depend on the sale or the trans
portation or the distribution of
exports or imports, or whose
jobs will be endangered by the
movement of our capital to
Europe. or whose jobs can be
maintained only in an expand
ing economy-these millions of
workers in your home States
and mine will see their interests
sacrificed.
Members of the Congress:
The United States did not rise
to greatness by waiting for
others to lead. This Nation is
the worlds foremost manufac-
turer. farmer, banker, con-
Sumer and exporter. The Com
mon Market is moving ahead.
The Communist economic Of
fensive is underway. The op-
portunity is ours-the initiative
is up to us-and the time is
now.
To seize that initiative,
shall shortly send to the Con-
gresS a new five-year trade ex-
pansion action, far-reaching in
scope but designed with great
care to make certain that its
benefits far outweigh any risks
The bill will permit the gradual
elimination of tariffs here in
the United States and in the
Common Market on those items
in which we together supply
80 per cent Of the worlds trade
mostly items in which oul
own ability to compete is dem
FonStrated by the fact that we
sell abroad substantially more
than we import. This step will,
make it possible for our major
industries to compete with theil
counterparts in Western Europe
for access to European con-
sumers.
On other goods, the bill will
permit a gradual reduction oi
duties up to so per cent-per.
nit bargaining by major cate.
gorieS-and provide for ap.
propriate and tested forms o.
assistance to firms and EN-.
ployes adjusting to import com.
petition. We are not neglectinl
the safeguards provided BY
peril points. an escape clause
or the national security amend.
ment. Nor are we abandoning
our non-European friends o.
our traditional "moSt-favorec
nation" principle. On the con.
trary, the bill will provide new
encouragement for their sale
Of tropical agricultural prod
ucts, so important to oul
friends in Latin America.
Concessions, in this bargain.
ing, must Of course be recipro.
cal, not unilateral. The Com.
mon Market will not fulfill it!
own high promise unless it.
outside tariff walls are low
The dangers of restriction o.
timidity in our own policy have
counterparts for our friends IL
Europe. For together we fact
a common challenge: To en-
large the prosperity of free mer
everywhere-and to build IL
partnership a new trading com
munity in which all free ma
tions may gain from th'
productive energy Of free com
petitive effort.
These various elements in oul
foreign policy lead, as I have
said, to a single goal-the goa
of a peaceful world Of free anc
independent states. This is oul
guide for the present and oul
vision for the future-a fret
community of nations, inde'