    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [December 11, 1994]
    [Page 2175]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2175]]

    Remarks Welcoming Chile to the North American Free Trade Agreement
    Partnership in Miami
    December 11, 1994

        Mr. Prime Minister, President Zedillo, President Frei: I would like
    to begin my remarks by expressing my appreciation on behalf of the
    United States to the leaders and the people of Mexico and Canada for
    being such good partners in NAFTA this last year. This has been a very,
    very good deal for the United States of America.
        Beginning with our agreement with Canada, and with our completion of
    the NAFTA agreement, we have seen a substantial increase in trade and an
    increase in jobs, good-paying jobs, for the American people. In the last
    year alone, we estimate that 100,000 jobs have been added to the
    American economy because of increased trade opportunities flowing
    directly out of NAFTA. We have a 500 percent increase in exports of
    automobile products to Mexico alone in the last year because of NAFTA.
    So while I think this is good for the world and good for our region, I
    want to begin by saying a special thank you, because this agreement and
    the good faith that has been followed in adhering to it has been good
    for the working families of the United States.
        The second thing I would like to do is to say how very proud I am
    that we are welcoming Chile to the NAFTA partnership. This is a country,
    like our three countries, that has benefited from disciplined and
    responsible economic leadership. Chile has high economic growth, low
    inflation, has virtually extinguished its foreign debt, and has done so
    while manifesting the commitment to the labor and environmental
    standards and to the welfare of the people of Chile that are embedded in
    our commitments in NAFTA. So Chile is an ideal partner.
        I think you could see from the comments of the Prime Minister of
    Canada and the President of Mexico, we are actually quite proud to be
    entering this partnership.
        I think, furthermore, that this agreement we announce today will be
    further proof of our intentions, our serious intentions, to complete the
    free trade agreement for all the Americas by 2005. That is what we
    agreed to do in this summit. And this should be evidence that we intend
    to accelerate the process; we intend to keep working.
        And let me say again, on behalf of the United States, NAFTA is a
    good deal for us; it will be a better deal with Chile in it. And we are
    honored, honored to be in partnership with a country that shares our
    values and that has demonstrated that it can succeed by doing the right
    things and doing them well in a free society.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:50 p.m. at the James L. Knight Center.
    In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada,
    President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, and President Eduardo Frei of
    Chile.