The Nation - News from March 14, 1988

Commerce Secretary William C. Verity Jr. said that a massive trade bill should clear Congress by mid-April and that there was a good chance it would not contain provisions the White House considers protectionist. The House and Senate each passed differing versions of trade legislation last year. Negotiators for each chamber are trying to iron out differences. Verity, appearing on ABC-TV’s “Business World,” said that Missouri Rep. Richard A. Gephardt’s poor showing on Super Tuesday was evidence the country did not support trade barriers. “I think it’s a very good signal. I think there’s been a change on the Hill and in this town that protectionism is not the problem that we saw two or three weeks ago and now perhaps there is a chance to get a good trade bill,” he said.