Reagan Signs ‘Fair Trade’ Bill, Ignores Bentsen Role

President Reagan, using the West Coast’s busiest port as a backdrop, signed the historic trade reform bill today at a ceremony in Long Beach, saying the measure will help open world markets for U.S. products and ensure “fair play” abroad.

With an audience of congressional leaders and dockworkers looking on, Reagan did not mention Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), the Democratic vice presidential candidate and prime mover of the bill. Reagan vetoed the trade bill once, and Bentsen says the Administration resisted the plan “every inch of the way.”

But White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater told reporters, “Everyone who worked on it gets the credit,” adding that Bentsen “did a good job” on the legislation.

The 2,000-page trade bill, passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate, is intended to make the United States a leader in world trade by opening foreign markets to U.S. exports and requiring retaliation against foreign trade abuses.

“It will help us insist on standards of fair play for our products abroad,” Reagan said.

Reagan, who had objected to what he said were protectionist features in earlier versions of the legislation, said there are still “some things in this bill I don’t like.”

He said the law could lead to an import fee that would be illegal under international law and “inconsistent with our goal of moving toward free world trade.”

He also objected that the bill purports to require the International Trade Commission to conduct investigations in response to a resolution passed by just one House or Senate committee.

“And so, in signing this bill I am specifically noting that it will be implemented in a constitutional manner,” the President said.