    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 5, 1991]
    [Page 111]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement Announcing Canada-Mexico-United States Trilateral Free
    Trade Negotiations
    February 5, 1991

        The President of the United States, George Bush; the President of
    the United Mexican States, Carlos Salinas de Gortari; and the Prime
    Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, announced today their intention to
    pursue a North American free trade agreement creating one of the world's
    largest liberalized markets.
        Following consultations among their ministers responsible for
    international trade, the three leaders concluded that a North American
    free trade agreement would foster sustained economic growth through
    expanded trade and investment in a market comprising over 360 million
    people and $6 trillion in output. In so doing, the agreement would help
    all three countries meet the economic challenges they will face over the
    next decade.
        Accordingly, the three leaders have agreed that their trade
    ministers should proceed as soon as possible, in accordance with each
    country's domestic procedures, with trilateral negotiations aimed at a
    comprehensive North American free trade agreement. The goal would be to
    progressively eliminate obstacles to the flow of goods and services and
    to investment, provide for the protection of intellectual property
    rights, and establish a fair and expeditious dispute settlement
    mechanism.

                                                            February 5, 1991

                        Note: This joint statement was made available by the
                            Office of the Press Secretary but was not issued
                            as a White House press release.