Did Bill Negotiate NAFTA or not?

[Blue State Bandit]

"Number two, okay. Number two. I tried to get labor and environmental standards in the agreement but I couldn't’t because it was all negotiated when I got there."

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Bill_Clinton_complains_about_paranoid_hecklers_0312.html">Video:Bill Clinton March 12th 2008 Erie PA.

So you "tried" to get labor and environmental standards? The negotiations were done when you "got there"?

If you couldn't get these two major points addressed, then why did you sign the agreement? If you needed more time, you could have used a pocket veto.

This is getting confusing. Did you have any control or not? Why would you sign a treaty that you had no part in negotiating?

[MonkeyFunk]

1. Yes, it was already negotiated

by the previous administration. Clinton did get negotiate two side agreements.

Why would he use the pocket veto? He fought for its passage.

[paulk]

2. do some research

NAFTA was negotiated and signed under fast track authority by George HW Bush.

Clinton pursued two side agreements when he became President - covering labor and environmental standards. Those were the conditions under which he agreed to ratify the legislation. The effectiveness of those side agreements is debatable - especially since the Republicans took over the Congress shortly afterward and have held it or the White House since. They were not as interested in fixing NAFTA's problems as were the Democrats.