[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

[[Page 287]]

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.