    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 13, 2004]
    [Pages 1292-1294]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004
    July 13, 2004

        Thanks for coming. In just 4 years, the African Growth and
    Opportunity Act has shown the power of free markets to improve the lives
    of people in both the United States and Africa. By reducing barriers to
    trade, this law has increased export, created jobs, and expanded
    opportunity for Africans and Americans alike. It has given American
    businesses greater confidence to invest in Africa and encouraged African
    nations to reform their economies and governments to take advantage of
    the opportunities that AGOA provides.
        So today I'm pleased to build on that success and extend the law's
    benefits long into the future by signing the AGOA Acceleration Act of
    2004. This legislation is a product of strong bipartisan cooperation,
    and I thank the Members of the House and the Senate for working together
    on this very important piece of legislation. And I want to thank those
    in the audience who worked hard to see that the bill made it to my desk
    as quickly as it did.
        Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for your leadership. Secretary
    Powell is a strong believer in the potential
    of the continent of Africa, and so am I.
        I appreciate so very much Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for joining us today. Senator, thank you for coming. I'm
    pleased to see that my friend, the ranking member of the Senate Finance
    Committee, Max Baucus is still standing.
    [Laughter] And I appreciate your leadership, sir. We're honored that
    Dick Lugar, the chairman of the Senate
    Foreign Relations Committee, is with us. Mr. Chairman, thank you, and
    thank you for your clear vision for a better world. I appreciate so very
    much the members of the Ways and Means Committee who are here with us,
    the chairman and ranking member--Chairman Bill Thomas, who's worked so hard for this legislation, as has his
    friend and ranking member, Charlie Rangel,
    both fine Members of the Congress. Thank you all for being here, and
    thanks for your good work. I also am honored that Ed Royce, the chairman of the International Relations
    Subcommittee on Africa, has joined us. And soon we'll be joined by
    Donald Payne, the ranking member, as well.
        These Members put in good work. They worked hard. They brought the
    other Members of Congress along with them, many of whom are with us.
        I am honored that the dean of the African diplomatic corps stands
    with me today. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for
    coming. I'm proud you're here. And thank you for representing the other
    ambassadors who have joined us today. We appreciate you taking time to
    come. And thanks for supporting this legislation.
        There's a growing consensus in both Africa and the United States
    that open trade and international investment are the surest and fastest
    ways for Africa to make progress. That's what you have said; that's what
    Congress has responded to. For too many years, the world's efforts to
    promote Africa's development were focused on aid. Development aid is
    important--nothing wrong with aid. My administration has substantially
    increased aid to Africa, and we appreciate working with the Members to
    do that.

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        But as Uganda's President Museveni has said, ``By itself, aid cannot transform societies.
    Only trade can foster the sustained economic growth necessary for such
    transformation.'' This African leader understands that when nations
    close their markets and opportunity is hoarded by a privileged few, no
    amount of development aid is ever enough. But when nations respect their
    people, open their markets, expand freedom and opportunity to all their
    citizens, entire societies can be lifted out of poverty and despair.
    This is a hopeful piece of legislation. As America works for open
    markets and opportunity on the African Continent, we will also confront
    disease and hunger and the violence that undermines progress and hope.
        I'm deeply concerned about the humanitarian and human rights crisis
    in Darfur, Sudan. For the sake of peace and basic humanity, I echo the
    sentiments of the Secretary of State. I call upon the Government of the
    Sudan to stop the Janjaweed violence. I call on all parties of the
    conflict to respect the cease-fire, to respect human rights, and to
    allow for the free movement of humanitarian workers and aid. The United
    States and the United Nations and the leadership of the African Union
    are working to bring relief to the suffering people of that region.
    America will continue to strongly support these efforts for peace.
        One way to spread peace is to encourage political and economic
    reform across Africa by opening markets here in the United States. It's
    important for our people to understand, by opening United States markets
    we make it more likely there will be peace on the continent of Africa.
        AGOA nations are strengthening the rule of law. They are lowering
    trade barriers. They're combating corruption and eliminating child
    labor. They're setting an important example for the entire continent,
    demonstrating that governments that respect individual rights and
    encourage the development of their markets are more likely to grow
    economically and achieve political stability.
        Like all good partnerships, AGOA has been beneficial to all parties.
    Free trade between the United States and sub-Sahara Africa has created
    jobs, wealth, and opportunity on both continents. Last year under AGOA,
    African exports to the United States increased by 55 percent and
    African--and American businesses saw a 15-percent increase in our
    exports to sub-Sahara Africa--that equals almost $7 billion. The most
    notable gains were made by American companies selling agricultural goods
    and machinery and transportation equipment.
        See, when you sell goods in Africa, it means somebody is finding
    work here at home. Trade must work both ways. AGOA has been beneficial
    to the people of the continent of Africa and to the people of the United
    States of America. That's why this is a good piece of legislation.
        Since its enactment in 2000, AGOA has generated over $340 million in
    investment and created thousands of jobs. Things are happening because
    of the law we're extending today, positive things for people in Africa
    and in America. The enactment of this law will help ensure that this
    mutually beneficial trade continues. Trade and investment from around
    the world is essential to world peace. The United States and the nations
    of the sub-Saharan Africa are working together to break down trade
    barriers around the world--not just between ourselves but around the
    world.
        My trade representative, Ambassador Bob Zoellick, is in Africa right now. He's meeting with his counterparts
    from across the continent to prepare for the World Trade Organization
    meeting in Geneva later this month. These are important meetings.
    They're important meetings for the people of the United States; they're
    important meetings for the people on the continent of Africa. And the
    reason why is because we want to advance our shared economic agenda, and
    it's very important

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    for our AGOA partners to help make these talks in Geneva a success.
        Pass the word on to your capitals: No region has more to gain from
    free markets than Africa. That's the message. And no region has more to
    lose from a stalled WTO process than Africa. By working together and by
    our example, we can show the world that a new global trade agreement can
    bring greater prosperity to all nations.
        Real prosperity is the work of many years. I know that. It's hard
    work. It's hard to change the status quo. This law encourages the change
    in the status quo.
        I'm so pleased and proud to see the ambassadors from the African
    nations who are here. Thank you all for coming. You've worked hard to
    make AGOA a success. You've worked hard to spread the message in the
    halls of Congress, and your hard work has paid off. I share your
    optimism about Africa's future. That's what we believe. Those of us who
    are standing up here believe in the future of Africa. We appreciate the
    commitment to freedom. We appreciate your understanding that we all have
    an obligation to spread opportunity throughout all corners of this
    important part of the world.
        And now, it is my honor to sign this important piece of legislation.

    Note: The President spoke at 10 a.m. in Room 350 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to
    Roble Olhaye, Djibouti's Ambassador to the United States. H.R. 4103,
    approved July 13, was assigned Public Law 108-274.