    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [March 19, 1991]
    [Pages 285-287]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a White House Briefing for the National Leadership of the
    Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade
    March 19, 1991

        Thank you for that warm welcome, and welcome to the White House. I'm
    delighted to see our traveling Secretary of Commerce, Bob Mosbacher,
    just back from Kuwait, looking good--a little jet lag on him. [Laughter]
    But he's doing an outstanding job over there at Commerce. And also on my
    left over here, Carla Hills, who is our Trade Representative, Ambassador
    Hills, working very, very hard on the subject that I want to talk to you
    today about, hard and effectively. And, of course, Dr. Boskin, I assume
    you know--that I rely very heavily on him on all matters economic. So,
    you have our first team here. And that includes Barbara Bush. And I
    think it's very appropriate that Mexico's able Ambassador, Ambassador
    Petricioli, be with us. Welcome, sir.
        But I haven't done the personal name check, but I am told that the
    people gathered here span 50 States, from California to New York to
    Florida--I don't know why they left out Texas. [Laughter] Hometown
    heroes who are here to really--to put it in perspective, to help lead us
    into the 21st century. That also brings to mind, obviously, another
    group of heroes--the heroes that we see on television almost every night
    now, in those very emotional scenes of people coming home, stepping off
    the planes and into the history books--the courageous men and women of
    Operation Desert Storm.
        But thinking of them, and looking around at this gathering of
    friends, I can't help but think of the incredible contributions that
    Hispanic-Americans have made to the defense of this country, in
    peacetime and in war, 38 Congressional Medals of Honor. I think of
    heroes like Captain Rivera, Manuel Rivera, who grew up in the South
    Bronx and became an accomplished Marine pilot. One of the first to fall
    in the air war over the Gulf. And he had dreams of becoming an
    astronaut. And today he has taken his place in the stars, so that we
    might find a better way on Earth.
        The coalition triumph in the Gulf serves to remind us how much the
    world continues to look to the United States of America for leadership.
    And it reminded us also that we are a great nation, capable of great
    things at home and abroad. As I said in my recent address to the joint
    session of the United States Congress, the real way to honor the
    sacrifice of our troops is to roll up our sleeves and for me, the rest
    of us in the White House to work with the Congress to help build a
    better America, a better world, a better tomorrow.
        We've gathered here today to seize an

    [[Page 286]]

    historic opportunity to do just exactly that. Earlier this month, I sent
    up to the Congress our request for an extension of the Fast Track
    procedures for implementing new trade agreements. It's a simple concept.
    For the better part of this century, this nation has recognized that
    trade agreements require a special kind of cooperation between Congress
    and the executive branch. Through Fast Track authority, Congress has
    made sure that the President went to the table equipped with the same
    bargaining powers as his counterpart: the ability to ensure that an
    agreement reached overseas would be the agreement voted upon at home.
        Many of you know what it's like to run a business. And you
    understand how critical it is to have this simple authority to reach
    across the table and shake hands on a deal.
        No one's asking for carte blanche. We still have to bring back the
    best agreement possible--bring it back to the ``home office,'' if you
    will, back to Congress for a vote. But at least Fast Track gives us the
    authority to get the deal in writing so that it can be presented to
    Congress for an up or down vote. I can assure the Congress again today
    that, knowing our able Trade Ambassador, we're not going to make a bad
    deal. We're not going to bring back a deal to the Congress that they're
    going to have to turn down.
        We need an extension of this Fast Track authority right now to
    pursue critical new trade initiatives of unprecedented promise, like the
    Uruguay round--we've got to complete that successfully; the Enterprise
    for the Americas Initiative, that means so much in our hemisphere; and
    the North American free trade agreement. Fast Track authority gives us
    the chance to negotiate agreements that help everyone concerned.
        And as with every good business deal--everybody wins. A vote against
    the extension of the Fast Track authority would cut off the chance to
    negotiate any new agreements. Simply put, a vote against Fast Track is a
    vote against trade, against ourselves, against our neighbors. And if we
    do not move forward--a fast track--then we're going to face a dead end,
    in my view.
        In order to sustain the expansion of exports and of economic growth,
    we must continue our efforts to open up these world markets. Ambassador
    Hills is working, as I said, very hard to achieve success in the Uruguay
    round--to open up markets to U.S. goods and services worldwide. The
    free-trade talks with Mexico and Canada and our Enterprise for the
    Americas Initiatives are designed to strengthen U.S. ties with our
    neighbors to the south.
        Relations--and most of you in this room know this--relations between
    the United States of America and Mexico have never been better. Mexico
    has a bold new President, Carlos Salinas. And he's reformed that economy
    dramatically--almost miraculously. And he's extended the hand of
    friendship to the United States of America, and I've been proud on your
    behalf to reach out and shake that hand.
        But I want to pledge to you today that I will do my part to build on
    that friendship and work to create an even closer partnership between
    nations. Fair and free trade between our countries will help Mexico. But
    in my view, these important steps are in the best interest of the United
    States of America. They'll help us as well. Our ties with Mexico, let's
    face it--and everyone here knows it--go well beyond the bounds of
    commerce. We share cultures, heritages, families. And we--millions of
    Americans--trace their roots to Latin America. The genius and the
    vitality of the Latin culture have added new sparkle to our lives, our
    culture, our great country.
        We want to do our best to continue cultivating that genius and that
    vitality. Here, Hispanic businessmen and businesswomen are a critical
    American resource. You've been at the forefront of our trade, many in
    this room, right there in the forefront of the trade with not just
    Mexico but with Latin America. You speak the language; you understand
    the culture. And it's your determination, ingenuity, and vision that
    have driven you to create businesses that fuel our economy and enrich
    our lives.
        And that's why we need your help. That's why I'm delighted that you
    accepted this invitation to come to the White House today. We need your
    help. There's a lot of Members of the United States Congress that don't
    understand the importance of Fast

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    Track authority yet. We need you to tell them that you back the Fast
    Track--to clear the way for the Uruguay round, the Enterprise for the
    Americas, and indeed, the North American free trade zone--obviously,
    free trade agreement that obviously has Mexico as a vital part of it.
        A North American free trade area would unite 360 million consumers;
    a total output of $6 trillion. And by boosting economic prosperity in
    Mexico, Canada, and the United States, it will help us move forward on
    issues that concern all of us. Issues such as drugs and education,
    immigration, and the environment.
        Let me just take that environment for a second--one example. Country
    by country around the world, the people of the more developed nations
    enjoy cleaner rivers, purer air, better health, longer lives than their
    less developed counterparts. Development and prosperity mean less
    pollution, not more. In this way, the good you do today can mean good
    news not only for the people of your hometowns but also for the people
    of your homelands. Everybody wins. Every nation has much to gain from a
    new era of open doors and open minds and open trade: a future of
    sustained economic growth, lasting regional stability, lower prices and
    greater choices for consumers. More jobs--not less--more jobs will come
    out of these agreements--and an improved standard of living for our
    people and, yes, for our neighbors.
        Today is an auspicious day to launch this effort. For today in
    California the swallows return to Capistrano. And it's a harbinger of
    spring. You can tell from my hay fever; we've got it right here.
    [Laughter] A time of change, new growth, and new beginnings. And across
    the continent from the Yukon to the Yucatan, you can be a part--all of
    you--of this vision for the new world. A community of nations,
    prosperous and free, the cornerstone of the world's first fully
    democratic hemisphere. Think of that. We're on the verge of that right
    here.
        And yes, many challenges remain. Of course they do. Obstacles
    remain. But you can make a difference. You can encourage support for
    these bold new initiatives. And you can encourage Congress to act to
    provide new markets, new jobs, new business opportunities for all
    Americans.
        I understand the buses are parked outside. And I think it's time to
    jump-start this effort. And it's time to charge up the hill, strike down
    the barriers, and open up trade. So, there's a lot of excitement in the
    world. The recent events in the Gulf have kind of obscured the changes
    in Eastern Europe. And I think for a while they've obscured the
    fantastic moves towards democracy in this hemisphere. But now we're
    getting back in focus. We've won that war, and now what we've got to do
    is extend opportunities for all Americans.
        I take enormous personal pride in the fact that our relations with
    Mexico and countries to the south have never been better. And I can
    pledge to each and every one of you that I'm going to do my level best
    as President, as long as I am privileged to live in this house, to
    continue to improve relations with these countries. But now I'm asking
    for your help. And I will take this opportunity to look over at those
    cameras and ask the Congress of the United States to give us the
    authority that we need to move things forward.
        Thank you. And God bless the United States of America.

                        Note: The President spoke at 2:02 p.m. in the East
                            Room at the White House. In his remarks, he
                            referred to Secretary of Commerce Robert A.
                            Mosbacher; Carla A. Hills, U.S. Trade
                            Representative; Michael J. Boskin, Chairman of
                            the Council of Economic Advisers; Gustavo
                            Petricioli Iturbide, Mexican Ambassador to the
                            United States; Capt. Manuel Rivera, slain Marine
                            pilot; and President Carlos Salinas de Gortari
                            of
                            Mexico.