[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H11370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




WELCOMING TRADE MINISTERS TO MEETING OF FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS

  (Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHAW. Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Florida congressional 
delegation, I welcome trade ministers from 34 democratic countries to 
Miami, Florida, for the latest ministerial meeting of the Free Trade 
Area of the Americas currently under way. Scheduled for completion in 
2005, the FTAA would represent the largest free trade area in the 
world, encompassing these 34 nations with a combined population of 800 
million people. The FTAA will be a linchpin to economic growth, 
spurring trade and investment to the benefit of United States 
businesses, labor and consumers alike.
  In addition, I urge the selection of Miami as the permanent home of 
the FTAA secretariat. The Florida delegation remains committed to 
ensuring an FTAA secretariat in Miami because of the city's rich 
cultural and business ties to Latin America. In fact, this House in 
April of 2000 voted unanimously in support of Miami's designation. With 
three international airports and three seaports, Miami is truly the 
gateway to the Americas. In fact, Enterprise Florida has estimated the 
creation of 90,000 new jobs and an increase of $13.6 billion annually 
to Florida's gross State product.
  Again, I welcome the international community to south Florida, and 
remain mindful that trade alone is only part of the FTAA equation. The 
principles underlying a commitment to free trade are the same 
principles that foster free societies.
  International trade is more than just the exchange of goods and 
services. It is the economic fabric that ties together like-minded 
Democratic governments and societies.

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