[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[April 16, 2001]
[Pages 406-407]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Ricardo Lagos of Chile and an Exchange With Reporters
April 16, 2001

    President Bush. I'm very honored to welcome the President of Chile 
here to the Oval Office. Chile is a remarkable country. It's a country 
that is a strong democracy, that has shown people in this hemisphere the 
importance of rule of law. I look forward to renewing a friendship with 
the President.
    I also look forward to talking about free trade. I'm confident that 
by the time this year is over we will conclude a free trade agreement 
with Chile. It's in our Nation's best interest to do so.
    And finally, I think some Members of Congress could take a good--
could take some lessons from Chile, particularly when it comes to how to 
run our pension plans. Our Social Security system needs to be 
modernized, Mr. President, and I look forward to getting some 
suggestions as to how to do so, since you have done so, so well.
    But anyway, I welcome you to our country. And thank you very much 
for being here.
    President Lagos. I would like to take this opportunity, and I would 
like to say that I agree with the President that our team

[[Page 407]]

has to work hard, very hard, in order to be able to conclude an 
agreement by the end of the year. And this is so, I'm sure, that the 
shared investment in our countries are going to increase for the benefit 
of our population in order to give equal opportunities to everybody.
    We have common shares and common goals, not only common interests 
but common shares and values with the U.S., in democracy, respect to 
human rights, a market economy. And we are trying to do the best to have 
equal opportunities for everybody. And I think that these are the major 
goals for your administration, our administration. And we have to work 
in that direction. I'm sure that the trade agreement, if we are able to 
conclude, is going to be important to go in this direction.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President.
    Q. Mr. President, thank you, sir.
    President Bush. The ground rules are, a question from the American 
side and then a question from the Chilean side.

Trade Promotion Authority

    Q. Sir, last August, when you were a candidate, you said in Miami 
that when the next President sits at the American Summit, other nations 
must know that fast-track trade authority is on the way. Why are you 
going to Quebec with no promise of fast-track authority, and are you 
willing to compromise with Democrats to get it?
    President Bush. Well, I'd certainly like to have what they call 
fast-track authority. It would--most Presidents have had it. It's 
important for the President to fight for the right to be able to 
negotiate trade agreements without amendment. I believe we're making 
progress toward regaining that power for the President.
    In the meantime, we can negotiate a bilateral treaty with Chile. 
It's a separate issue. I'm confident we can get it done, Mr. President. 
Ambassador Zoellick is here. Ambassador 
Zoellick and the rest of my administration are committed to not only 
having a good trade agreement with Chile, but also giving the President 
the trade promotion authority. And we'll discuss ways to get it out of 
the Congress when the Congress gets back.
    I had a meeting with the leadership on both sides of the aisle to 
talk about trade promotion authority. I believe we can get--I believe we 
can get it done. It's going to require a lot of hard work and effort to 
do so.
    Q. Are you willing to compromise to do it, sir?
    President Bush. See, what happens here in American politics, Mr. 
President, is people are always trying to get me to put my cards on the 
table. [Laughter]
    President Lagos. That's the same down there, you know. [Laughter]
    President Bush. That happens in Chile, too? [Laughter]

Arms Sales to Chile

    Q. Mr. President, Chile is looking to buy F-16 planes to the United 
States, to modernize their army. What do you think of the sales of 
sophisticated arms to Latin America? Are you willing to support the 
requests of Chile?
    President Bush. I'm willing to discuss this matter with the 
President. I look forward to this being on the agenda that we're about 
to have. And we will listen to any request that our friends in our 
hemisphere make. I will tell you this, I am confident that Chile is a 
peaceful nation. I'm confident that they're a democracy that's--that 
intends to make the world more peaceful. And that's a good place to 
begin our discussion.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 4:55 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.