Bush vs. Gore on Trade Issues Take the Spotlight in Post-Convention Countdown Leaving the GOP and Democratic National Conventions in their wake, the candidates of each party are revving into high gear going into the fall election season. Polls indicate that the gap between the two candidates has narrowed, turning the presidential race into nearly a neck and neck contest. As the race tightens, both Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore seek to define themselves on the issues, including trade. Although they are both ardent free traders, Gore and Bush have markedly different approaches that create a stark contrast. Both candidates support permanent normal trade relations with China, an issue which nearly cost Gore the endorsement of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. "It's no secret we disagree sharply -- on NAFTA and on granting China permanent normal trade relations," said UAW President Stephen P. Yokich. But, unlike Bush, the Democratic Party trade platform pledges to ensure that labor and environmental standards are included in trade agreements. Global warming is a subject Gore is especially passionate about. He says he would spend $125 billion over 10 years to modernize power plants and create eco-friendly fuels, while forcing international trade treaties to meet tough environmental standards. Bush supports "a distinctly American internationalism," and has pledged to fight for fast-track trading authority while also making "trade a consistent priority of my administration." DaimlerChrysler and the UAW, concerned that a Gore crackdown on fuel-inefficient cars could cost jobs and profits, held a gala at the Petersen Automotive Museum in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. "What better way to ensure a sympathetic ear than a gala honoring Missouri delegates and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, the man who -- depending on the results of fall elections -- just might become the next speaker of the House?" asked Newsweek magazine. Perhaps in an effort to help along the UAW endorsement, the Democratic Party trade platform promises that "as president, Al Gore will move aggressively to reduce our overall trade deficit and stop the erosion of good paying manufacturing jobs. This includes negotiating tough agreements to reduce our persistent automotive trade imbalance with our major trading partners." The finger is almost certainly pointed at Japan, which runs an automotive trade deficit with the U.S. An agreement between the U.S. and Japan on auto trade, negotiated in 1995 in the midst of threatened 100 percent trade sanctions on certain imported Japanese vehicles, is due to expire at the end of this year. An organization committed to free trade and an open and competitive automotive market in the United States, AIADA supports permanent normal trade relations with China and fast-track negotiating authority. The association also serves as a watchdog in Washington on automotive trade issues to ensure that trade disputes do not negatively impact its members, the 10,000 American retailers of international nameplate automobiles.

AIADA 99 Canal Center Plaza Suite 500 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-519-7800 703-519-7810 FAX GOAIADA@aiada.org

For more information, Bridgestone/Firestone suggests customers call 800-465-1904 or visit its Web site at www.bridgestone-firestone.com.

Working with other family-owned businesses, AIADA helped secure passage of legislation (H.R. 8) to completely repeal the death tax. This bill passed the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support in early June, just after dealers attending AIADA's Automotive Congress in Washington lobbied their legislators on this issue. The Senate passed the same repeal bill, also with broad bipartisan support in July. This is the first time that a stand-alone death tax repeal bill has passed Congress. However, President Clinton has promised to veto the bill, calling it a tax break for the wealthy.

With the bill scheduled to go to the president's desk soon, AIADA Chairman Vidmar asked members to contact the White House and explain the negative impact the death tax has on family-owned automobile dealerships. "We must do all we can to encourage him to repeal the death tax," wrote Vidmar. "We cannot go down without a fight." The death tax can be devastating for family-owned automobile dealerships, whose heirs must pay death taxes of up to 55 percent of the estate's total value in cash to the government.

If you have not yet contacted the President, you can do so the following ways:

MAIL: President William J. Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20500
PHONE: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-1121
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov

In thanking dealers for their efforts, Vidmar pledged, "AIADA will not stop fighting this tax until it is eliminated. We cannot and will not give up."