    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [August 3, 2004]
    [Pages 1467-1469]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement
    Implementation Act
    August 3, 2004

        The President. Welcome. Please be seated. I'm honored to welcome you
    all to the White House this morning, as I sign the legislation
    implementing the historic free trade agreement between Australia and the
    United States.
        For nearly a century, our two nations have been allies in war and
    partners in peace. Prime Minister Howard's
    superb leadership has helped ensure that the friendship between our two
    peoples remains strong, that our commitment to political and economic
    freedom remains firm.
        The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a milestone in the
    history of our alliance. It expands our security and political alliance
    by creating a true economic partnership. It will create jobs and
    opportunities in both our nations. It will fuel economic growth
    throughout the Pacific Rim, and it will strengthen our common ties of
    family and friendship.
        I appreciate so very much those in my Cabinet who have worked hard
    to make this agreement come true: Secretary of State Powell, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, and, of course, Ambassador Bob Zoellick, who is the U.S. Trade Representative.
        Just as an aside, Zoellick has done
    heroic work, as has his staff, to see to it that the world trades more
    freely and America is treated fairly when it comes to trade.
        I appreciate Ambassador Michael Thawley,
    the Ambassador of Australia to the United States, for his tireless
    efforts in representing his country's best interests as we negotiate
    this trade agreement. Mr. Ambassador, you are a credit to your country.
        I'm also proud that Senator Orrin Hatch
    is with us. Senator, I appreciate you taking time to come and represent
    the United States Congress. This agreement received strong bipartisan
    support. It represents that members of both parties understand the
    benefits of trade to our country. Welcome, Senator, I appreciate you
    coming.
        We support free and fair trade. I support free and fair trade,
    because it has the power to create new wealth for whole nations and new
    opportunities for millions of people. Sound policy can help unleash the
    initiative and talent of free people. Open trade is sound policy. It has
    a record for creating jobs and raising living standards and lowering
    consumer prices.
        My administration is working with the Congress to extend the
    benefits of free trade throughout the western hemisphere, in Africa, and
    into the Middle East. We renewed the African Growth and Opportunity Act,
    which promotes economic reforms and reduces trade barriers on goods from
    the nations of sub-Sahara Africa. Working with Congress, we entered into
    a new free trade agreement with Morocco and Chile. We're encouraging the
    free flow of trade across the Pacific. Last year I had the honor to sign
    a free trade agreement with Singapore, America's first with an Asian
    Pacific nation. Today I'm honored to sign legislation enacting the
    second.
        The total annual two-way trade in American and Australian goods and
    services stands at $28 billion. Australia is America's 10th largest
    export market. Our trade with Australia is important to every American.
    It is vital to our economy. The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a
    recognition of that importance and a commitment by both our nations to
    work in partnership for common prosperity. This agreement will
    immediately eliminate duties on 99 percent of all U.S.-manufactured
    exports to Australia. That is the largest immediate reduction of tariffs
    on manufactured goods ever

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    achieved in an American free trade agreement.
        America's manufacturers estimate that eliminating these tariffs will
    increase the export of manufactured goods by nearly $2 billion per year.
    That will mean new jobs for American workers. This agreement will also
    be good for America's farmers. It will eliminate all duties on American
    agricultural products entering Australia. Today, American farmers export
    almost $700 million worth of goods to Australia. And because of this
    agreement, that total will rise.
        Free and fair trade means more than eliminating tariffs on existing
    trade. We must also work to open up new sectors of our economies to
    competition and trade. This agreement opens important sectors of
    Australia's economy, such as telecommunications, government procurement,
    express delivery, computers, tourism, energy, construction, financial
    services, and entertainment. And the agreement strengthens protections
    for intellectual property and promotes electronic commerce.
        One of the great economic achievements since the end of the cold war
    has been the success of free and fair trade in raising up the world's
    poor, bringing hope to the world's hopeless, promoting freedom among the
    world's oppressed, and creating jobs at home and abroad. The same
    advantages that this agreement will bring to the United States and
    Australia can and should be available to the developing world. Our two
    nations are committed to the reduction of trade barriers and other
    restrictions that are keeping too much of the world from the kind of
    prosperity and opportunity that the developed world takes for granted.
        On Saturday, that commitment yielded an important result that will
    benefit manufacturers and farmers from America, Australia, and the
    world. For the last several days, our trade ministers in Geneva have
    worked tirelessly to achieve an agreed framework for the WTO's Doha's
    negotiation. This framework provides a roadmap for these ongoing talks.
    Among other things, it commits WTO members to the elimination of export
    subsidies on agricultural products. And it commits them to start new
    work on the overhaul, streamlining, and transparency of customs rules.
    There is more work to be done, but Prime Minister Howard and I remain committed to the success of the Doha
    negotiations.
        The United States and Australia have never been closer. We're allies
    in the war on terror. We're partners in the effort to help democracy
    take root in Afghanistan and Iraq and throughout the world. We
    understand that free societies will be peaceful societies. We long for
    peace. I appreciate Prime Minister Howard. He's
    a strong partner in peace. We understand that over the long term, the
    only way to create a safer world is to create a better world. We share a
    belief in the need to help others.
        This trade agreement serves the interests of our countries. It
    serves the interests of the United States and Australia. It serves the
    interests of citizens with ambition and initiative and entrepreneurial
    instincts in both our countries. It advances the principle of free and
    fair trade. I am grateful to the Prime Minister, John Howard, for his good work and his vision and his friendship.
        And it's now my honor to sign the U.S.-Australia Free Trade
    Implementation Act.

     [At this point, the President signed the bill.]

        The President. Thank you all for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:27 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister John Howard of
    Australia. H.R. 4759, approved August 3, was assigned Public Law No.
    108-286.

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