[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 22, 1992]
[Pages 132-133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for the Computer Trade Agreement With 
Japan

January 22, 1992
    The President. First, let me welcome Foreign Minister Watanabe of 
Japan and Japan's able Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador 
Murata. And of course, well-known to all in this audience is our 
distinguished USTR, Ambassador Carla Hills.
    I want to welcome the CSPP, the Computer Systems Policy Project 
member companies which are represented here by this distinguished group. 
And in particular, I want to acknowledge James Unruh from Unisys; Ronald 
Skates of Data General; Dick Iverson, the president of the American 
Electronics Association; and a special thanks to CSPP Chairman John 
Scully, who regrettably is not with us today.
    And I'm proud to be here as we sign this path-breaking agreement for 
Japanese public sector procurement of American computers. It's just one 
of the highlights of our Asia trip. It illustrates the success that we 
had fighting for America, for American jobs, and for our own future, for 
America's future. This agreement also highlights why foreign relations 
have never been as important to our well-being at home than they are 
now. When we foster democracy abroad, when we strengthen our security 
engagements with our allies and friends, when we work to open markets 
and to expand trade, we make a priceless investment in our own 
children's future.
    The promise contained in this agreement is great. For example, in 
one segment of the computer market, mainframes, foreign companies have 
41 percent of the overall Japanese private sector market, but only .4 
percent of the Japanese central government market. Ten years ago, 
Japan's markets were much more closed than they are now. And 10 years 
down the road, they'll be

[[Page 133]]

much more open than they are today as a result of constructive 
agreements like this one.
    In Tokyo, we were determined to ensure that U.S. computer companies 
be allowed to compete fairly for the total Japanese government computer 
market, estimated as a $9 billion market. Since our own highly 
competitive electronics industry employs 2.4 million American workers, 
this would mean dramatic gains in exports and therefore in quality 
American jobs. So, we set as a top priority working with the Japanese 
Government to continue the process to open Japan's markets to free and 
fair trade.
    Ambassador Hills and our negotiators worked with stunning speed, and 
I am tremendously proud of our team's steadfast commitment to open 
markets and fair competition. And as a result of their concerned effort 
and the hard work and cooperation of our Japanese friends, especially by 
my good friend Minister Watanabe here, this remarkable agreement will 
help propel our nations together into the next century of global 
marketplace.
    High-tech trade benefits our consumers, strengthens our industries. 
And we have representatives from America's computer industry here today. 
They know how important our successful negotiations will be to their 
future, and they've said so publicly in commending this achievement.
    We're entering an entirely different economic world than the one we 
grew up in, a new age of American competition in a fiercely challenging 
global marketplace. Agreements like these are only the first step; the 
next step will come as American businesses meet worldwide challenges. 
And they will succeed because as long as that playing field is level, 
American workers, I think, can outcompete and outproduce anyone, 
anywhere, anytime. I know we all have that confidence in our workers.
    In the State of the Union Address, I'm going to present my action 
plan to move our economy into the 21st century. It's an ambitious agenda 
for growth, and I'm absolutely confident that the American people will 
join me in this vision for a new era of expanded markets, growing 
opportunities, peace, and prosperity.
    And overlooked to some degree is, with full cooperation from Japan's 
Prime Minister and their Foreign Minister, we signed a very important 
growth agenda with the Japanese. It has broad economic implications for 
the entire world. And again, sir, I thank you for your personal role in 
that.
    We salute the hard work and determination between our two 
Governments that brought about this landmark agreement. More than 150 
years ago, a British politician, Lord Macaulay, made an observation that 
could still guide us today. He said that free trade is ``one of the 
greatest blessings which a government can confer on a people.'' And I 
think with the signing of today's agreement, Japan and the United States 
both give their people a gift for the future. This relationship between 
Japan and the United States is very, very important, and I plan to keep 
it with very, very high priority.
    And now, Minister Watanabe, with thanks to you, sir, for taking time 
from your other busy schedule here, welcome, and we're just delighted to 
have you here.

                    Note: The President spoke at 2:10 p.m. in the 
                        Roosevelt Room at the White House. Ambassador 
                        Ryohei Murata of Japan and U.S. Trade 
                        Representative Carla A. Hills signed the 
                        agreement.