Governor Backs Free Trade Plan : Economy: He blames ‘xenophobic zingers’ for undermining attempts to promote accord.

In an effort to counter opposition from labor, Democrats and environmentalists, Gov. Pete Wilson Thursday issued a strong defense of the embattled U.S. free trade agreement with Mexico, saying it will bring jobs and prosperity to California.

Wilson, speaking to about 400 members of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, blamed “xenophobic zingers” and a “new and ugly streak” of protectionist rhetoric for undermining attempts to promote free trade in this hemisphere.

“Sadly, opposition to such free trade is finding new voices in the United States on both extremes of the political spectrum,” Wilson said. “Most of the shrill critics are those same head-in-the-sand protectionists who have always feared change.”

The Republican governor praised the North American Free Trade Agreement, being negotiated by U.S., Mexican and Canadian officials, as a plan that “holds great promise for California” because it will expand the state’s market for products.

The agreement, which would lift tariffs and other trade barriers in North America, is backed by the Bush Administration but has been attacked by labor leaders and many Democratic politicians who fear that it will drive jobs south of the border where labor costs are cheaper.

Also, environmental activists have voiced concerns that businesses attracted to Mexico, where regulations are lax, would worsen the severe air and water pollution problem.

Wilson countered that as Mexico prospers with new and increased trade, it can better afford to enforce anti-pollution measures, build modern waste systems and clean up dirty factories.

“Global free trade is an essential tonic for an ailing world environment,” he said. “Long-term economic growth and environmental protection go hand in hand. We can--we must--have both. Or we will have neither.”

Although he mentioned no names, Wilson’s comments were clearly aimed in part at former Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr., whose campaign for President has hurled harsh criticism at the free trade agreement.

Brown, who is scheduled to speak this weekend at the state Democratic convention in Los Angeles, says that the pact will cost American jobs by making it easier for companies to do business in Mexico. He has been vehement in using this argument in states where organized labor is strong.

On another matter, Wilson, talking to reporters after his speech, described his “brief” conversation on Wednesday with Mother Teresa, who asked the governor to spare the life of murderer Robert Alton Harris.

“She told me that she hoped that I would . . . (do) as Jesus would have done,” Wilson said, “(which) I interpreted . . . to mean that she was seeking forgiveness for Robert Alton Harris.”

Wilson has scheduled a clemency hearing for Harris, who is sentenced to die April 21, on Wednesday. He declined to discuss what his decision would be, but reiterated his belief that Californians have determined that the death penalty was an “appropriate response” in the Harris case.