Clinton shuffles away from husband’s trade legacy

Hillary Clinton is casting doubt on key aspects of her husband’s presidential legacy on free trade, as a backlash over globalization’s squeeze on American workers roils the White House race.

The Democratic front-runner also called for a “time-out” on any new trade deals, at a time when agreed pacts with South Korea and Peru await endorsement in Congress.

Clinton’s remarks in an interview for Tuesday’s edition of USA Today, marked the latest sharp contrast with the centrist tone on trade adopted by former president Bill Clinton’s administration between 1993 and 2001, and echoed criticisms, at the time, of the impact of trade pacts.

She said a reevaluation of global trade deals should start with the signature North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico launched under Bill Clinton in 1994, saying it had cost jobs and benefited the rich.

On Monday, during an economy-themed bus trip through Iowa, Clinton said Washington must do more to hold trade partners to their commitments.

“I think it is time that we assess trade agreements every five years to make sure they are meeting their goals or make adjustments if they are not, and we should start with doing that with NAFTA.”

During his presidency, Bill Clinton argued the United States could not cut itself off from globalized trade and that on balance, it made America more prosperous.

Ashington, Wednesday, AFP