Clinton meeting leaves lawmen in upbeat mood

Pres Clinton expressed his support for a lifting of the ban on exports of crude oil from Alaska's North Slope at a meeting with members of Congress at the White House. However, Clinton said that a rescinding of the ban would have to be predicated upon the resolution of some trade issues linked to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Current proposal to lift the ban have the stipulation that the oil can only be transported on tankers registered in the US, a stipulation that may run afoul of GATT regulations.