[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 27927-27928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13678]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 99 / Thursday, May 22, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 27927]]

                Proclamation 7004 of May 19, 1997

                
World Trade Week, 1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Two statistics sum up both the challenge and the 
                promise of today's dynamic global economy: 95 percent 
                of the world's consumers live outside the United 
                States, and U.S. exports generated more than $830 
                billion in sales in 1996. The theme of this year's 
                World Trade Week, ``Make Locally, Sell Globally,'' 
                exhorts American businesses to take advantage of the 
                enormous commercial potential of the international 
                marketplace, and we are poised to do so.

                Over the past 4 years, trade has spurred more than a 
                quarter of our overall domestic economic growth. During 
                this period, the United States under the leadership of 
                the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative signed more 
                than 200 new trade agreements and is once again the 
                world's leading exporter. In recent months, we have 
                concluded historic agreements in the World Trade 
                Organization that opened up the world 
                telecommunications services market to U.S. firms. We 
                also have negotiated a pact that will eliminate tariffs 
                on information technology products by the year 2000. 
                Together, these agreements offer American business 
                better access to markets representing more than $1 
                trillion in goods and services and are models for 
                further market-opening initiatives.

                The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has not 
                only increased trade with our member partners to a 
                level of $425 billion annually, but also has provided 
                greater stability to the global economy. We are 
                committed to building on this success by achieving a 
                Free Trade Area of the Americas, and we look toward a 
                comprehensive trade agreement with Chile as the next 
                concrete step in this direction.

                Selling globally also requires vigorous trade 
                enforcement efforts, such as those we initiated 
                recently by improving the protection of intellectual 
                property rights in China and some 20 other countries 
                around the world. Our ongoing efforts to eliminate 
                trade barriers in Asia have already paid dividends--for 
                example, U.S. exports to Japan have grown by more than 
                40 percent since 1993. We will also continue to 
                strictly enforce existing trade laws to ensure that 
                imported goods in U.S. markets do not enjoy an unfair 
                advantage over those produced by U.S. companies and 
                workers.

                We are committed to helping all U.S. businesses 
                continue to succeed--not only by opening markets, but 
                also by assisting U.S. exporters. My Administration, 
                through the efforts of the Trade Promotion Coordinating 
                Committee, has developed a National Export Strategy to 
                help small- and medium-size companies sell globally to 
                realize their export potential. Our nationwide network 
                of U.S. Export Assistance Centers combines under one 
                roof the services of the Department of Commerce, the 
                Small Business Administration, the U.S. Export-Import 
                Bank, and other agencies to improve business access to 
                trade information and financing. Over the past 4 years, 
                this network has more than doubled the amount of export 
                sales it facilitates. Our finance agencies, the U.S. 
                Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment 
                Corporation, and the Trade and Development Agency, also 
                help American businesses compete on a level playing 
                field in this increasingly competitive world economy.

[[Page 27928]]

                We can be proud of this record of achievement, but we 
                must build on it. Fair trade and open markets create 
                stable economies in which democracy can take root and 
                flourish. The United States alone has the legacy, the 
                resources, and the responsibility to lead the world in 
                this endeavor, and we must continue to do so.

                As we observe World Trade Week, 1997, I am confident 
                that, working together, we can sustain America's 
                leadership in the global economy, generate millions of 
                new jobs, and improve the quality of life for all our 
                people.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim May 18 through May 24, 1997, 
                as World Trade Week. I invite the people of the United 
                States to observe this week with ceremonies, 
                activities, and programs that celebrate the potential 
                of international trade.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-first.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 97-13678
Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P