[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 27889-27890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12945]



[[Page 27887]]

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Part II





The President





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Proclamation 7679--World Trade Week, 2003
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Proclamation 7679 of May 16, 2003

                
World Trade Week, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Trade expands prosperity, helps raise millions from 
                poverty, and is an engine of economic growth within our 
                Nation and around the world. Trade injects new energy 
                and vitality into the global economy by fostering the 
                exchange of ideas and innovations among people around 
                the world. Free and open trade also helps promote peace 
                and security. During World Trade Week, we renew our 
                commitment to developing and implementing trade 
                policies that create new opportunities and promote 
                global economic growth.

                My Administration is pursuing an ambitious trade agenda 
                that is restoring America's leadership in the global 
                trading system. We worked hard for the passage of the 
                Trade Act of 2002, which reinstated Trade Promotion 
                Authority after an 8-year lapse. Trade Promotion 
                Authority re-established the ability of the United 
                States to credibly negotiate comprehensive trade 
                agreements by ensuring that agreements will be approved 
                or rejected, by the Congress, but not amended. This 
                gives other countries renewed confidence in their trade 
                negotiations with the United States.

                To extend the benefits of trade and to improve the 
                lives of people in our Nation and around the world, my 
                Administration continues to pursue global, regional, 
                and bilateral trade agreements. Through the Doha 
                Development Agenda negotiations at the World Trade 
                Organization, the United States is seeking to 
                strengthen the multilateral trading system, increase 
                market access opportunities, and promote global 
                development. Regionally, we are working to build on the 
                success of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
                (NAFTA) with the Free Trade Area of the Americas, which 
                will expand free trade benefits throughout the Western 
                Hemisphere. We are also encouraging the free flow of 
                trade and investment in the Pacific among our partners 
                in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the 
                Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In addition, we 
                are negotiating a free trade agreement with five 
                Central American democracies and will soon begin free 
                trade agreement negotiations with the Southern African 
                Customs Union to help spur economic growth in these two 
                regions. Bilaterally, I recently signed a historic free 
                trade agreement with Singapore--the first of its kind 
                between the United States and an Asian/Pacific country, 
                and we are finalizing a similar agreement with Chile. 
                Free trade agreement negotiations are also underway 
                with Australia and Morocco.

                In America, trade is also critical to maintaining our 
                economic competitiveness in the global market. It has 
                been estimated that one in eleven American jobs--over 
                12 million--are supported by exports of goods and 
                services. In the 1990s, exports accounted for about 
                one-quarter of our economic growth. Our Nation's two 
                major trade agreements during this time, NAFTA and the 
                Uruguay Round, provided consumers with a greater choice 
                of goods at better prices, while raising living 
                standards for a typical American family of four by up 
                to $2,000 a year.

                My Administration is also providing assistance to help 
                trade-impacted workers adapt to the challenge of 
                international competition. The Trade Adjustment 
                Assistance program helps trade-impacted workers gain or 
                enhance job-related skills and find new jobs. The 
                program provides eligible workers with up

[[Page 27890]]

                to 2 years of training, income support during training, 
                job search assistance, and relocation allowances.

                World trade allows all nations to share in the great 
                economic, social, and political progress of our age and 
                provides a foundation for a more peaceful and stable 
                world. This week, we recognize the importance of free 
                trade in promoting prosperity and freedom in the United 
                States and around the world.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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, 2003, 
                as World Trade Week. I encourage all Americans to 
                observe this week with events, trade shows, and 
                educational programs that celebrate the benefits of 
                trade to our Nation and the global economy.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand three, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 03-12945
Filed 5-20-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P