Abstract
Examines America's fight for equality in foreign trade. Discusses the serious problem of the United States faltering as the major economic power in the world and what Americans can do about it.
Description
In 1988 global economic competition became a 'political football' of the presidential election. Just when America's prosperity seemed to depend on expanding trade, it found itself in a world of cut-throat competition from new centers of economic power. George H. W. Bush, then Vice President to Ronald Reagan and the Republican nominee embraced the free trade policies of Reagan. Gov. Michael Dukakis blamed an increasing trade deficit on the unregulated spending spree on imported goods and encouraged investment at home. Bruce Smart, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, and Daniel Sharp, International Affairs Advisor for Xerox join moderator Peter Krogh to examine both sides of the argument and to discuss the role of exchange rates, protectionism and domestic investment in international trade. Their assessments make one point clear: the days of America's global economic primacy may be over
