ABSTRACT
President Clinton's solid win on North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the House of Representatives Wednesday represents good news for a US entertainment industry heavily dependent on open markets worldwide. Pundits had expected a close vote, but the 234-200 victory gave Clinton plenty of breathing room. Among Democrats, the vote was 102 for and 156 against; Republicans favored the measure by 132 to 43. The lone independent voted against the pact. Another clause in NAFTA allows Mexican cinema owners to reduce from 50" to 30" the percentage of films that are of Mexican origin. Meanwhile European officials, particularly the French, continue in their pronouncements that they will not sign any world trade agreements that do not provide for some exemptions for cultural products and activities. Many Europeans fear that free trade in cultural goods and an end to government subsidies would give the Americans a greater edge and accelerate the dominance of American culture on their continent.
