Final answer:
President Clinton's view on trade is that it generally benefits economies, especially those of lower-income countries, yet there should be a consideration for protections for disadvantaged groups. Option (b) is the correct answer, indicating that while trade is beneficial, attention must be given to protect those at or below the poverty line.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main idea that President Clinton likely tries to communicate in quotations about trade, based on the accompanying context, is that free trade produces substantial benefits for economies that engage in it. Emphasizing the positive impacts that international trade has on global economic growth, historical examples illustrate how countries like Japan, South Korea, China, and India have experienced rapid economic growth by integrating into the global trade system.
Conversely, there are no examples of countries that have isolated themselves from international trade and prospered. Therefore, the most accurate answer to the question is option (b): Free trade is beneficial, but steps must be taken to protect those whose incomes are at or below the nation's poverty threshold.
While emphasizing the overall benefits of international trade, it is also acknowledged that lower-income countries may reap greater benefits than higher-income countries, suggesting that while trade is advantageous, attention must be given to those within an economy who may be adversely affected or have less access to the fruits of trade.
This notion advocates for a nuanced view that acknowledges both the strengths of free trade and the need for measures to protect and assist the less advantaged within the trading system.