    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 17, 2005]
    [Pages 808-810]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for Robert J. Portman as United States Trade Representative
    May 17, 2005

        The President. Thank you all for coming. I'm pleased to congratulate
    a distinguished public servant, Rob Portman, on becoming our new United
    States Trade Representative.
        It's an honor to be with Rob's dad as
    well as Jane and Jed
    and Will and Sally.
    Glad you all are here. It's always great when our Trade Representative
    has teenagers in the house. [Laughter] It helps him become a skilled
    negotiator. [Laughter] I appreciate the other members of the Portman
    family who have joined us.
        I thank members of my Cabinet who are here. Josh Bolten, thank you for coming. I appreciate Peter
    Allgeier, who is the Deputy U.S. Trade
    Minister. Peter, good to see you, sir.
        I want to thank the Members of Congress who came, David Camp from Michigan, Paul Ryan from
    Wisconsin--and Janna. I appreciate--I'm not
    through yet--[laughter]----
        Audience member. I'm sorry, sir. [Laughter]
        The President. ----and Melissa Hart.
    Rick Lazio, former Member, thank
    you for coming.
        I want to thank the Ambassadors who are here, diplomatic corps,
    Embajadores de Central America, as well as other ambassadors--welcome.
        Ambassador Portman will be carrying on the superb work done by Bob
    Zoellick. Under Ambassador Zoellick's
    outstanding leadership, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office has
    worked with Congress to pass trade promotion authority. We've completed
    free trade agreements with 12 nations on 5 continents. And those
    agreements will open a combined market of 124 million consumers for
    America's farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers. I want to thank
    all the men and women at the USTR for the good work they have done.
        Ambassador Portman is the right man to carry on this important work.
    He has a great record as a champion of free and fair trade. In his early
    days as an attorney, he specialized in international trade law.
    Throughout his time in Congress, he built a reputation as a steadfast
    proponent of the power of open markets to spread hope and prosperity
    around the world. As an Ohioan, Rob knows how much American farmers and
    workers depend on our export markets and how the expansion of agreements
    around the world can contribute to our economy here at home.

    [[Page 809]]

        To advance our trade agenda, we have three priorities in the months
    ahead. Our first trade priority is to pass the Central American and
    Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA. That is an
    important priority of this administration, and it should be an important
    priority of the United States Congress. Last week, I met with the six
    Presidents from the nations. We all share an interest in prosperity for
    our people and peace in the region, and CAFTA gives us an historic
    opportunity to advance these common goals.
        The agreement does four key things: It will level the playing field
    for American farmers and businesses; it will help our economy; it will
    make the region more competitive with Asia; and it will strengthen
    democracy in our backyard. At the moment, about 80 percent of imports
    from the region already enter the United States duty-free. Our market is
    open to the goods from CAFTA nations. CAFTA will open the region's
    markets of 44 million consumers to our goods and our services and our
    crops. CAFTA will also lower barriers in key segments like textiles.
    This would put CAFTA countries and America in a better position to
    compete with low-cost producers in Asia.
        As it opens the Western Hemisphere markets, CAFTA will also bring
    the stability and security that can only come from freedom. Today, a
    part of the world that was once characterized by unrest and dictatorship
    now sees its future in free elections and free trade, and we must not
    take these gains for granted. These are small nations, but they are
    making big and brave commitments, and America needs to continue to
    support them as they walk down the road of openness and accountability.
    By transforming our hemisphere into a powerful free trade area, we will
    promote democratic governance and human rights and the economic liberty
    for everyone. CAFTA is a really important piece of legislation.
        Our second trade priority is to encourage the Doha Development
    Agenda now being pursued by the World Trade Organization. This new
    framework is the largest negotiation of its kind in history, and it
    would reduce and eliminate tariffs in key industry sectors and unfair
    agricultural subsidies and open the global market in services.
        Finally, our third trade priority is to ensure that those who sign
    trade agreements live up to their terms. China's membership in the World
    Trade Organization has been a good thing for America. Our exports to
    China have increased 81 percent since China's entry into the WTO. When
    it joined the WTO, China also agreed to the rules of international
    trade, and it's in the interest of both China and the United States for
    China to abide by them.
        One reason I selected Ambassador Portman for this job is because I
    know he'll work to see that our farmers and our workers and service
    providers are treated fairly. Ambassador Portman will work to ensure
    that China stops the piracy of U.S. intellectual property, lifts the
    barriers that are keeping our goods and services out of China, and
    demonstrates its commitment to transparency and distribution rights for
    our products.
        America is a nation founded on the idea of open exchange, and free
    and fair trade is a win-win for all sides. By opening new markets, we'll
    increase prosperity for our small businesses and farmers and
    manufacturers and create jobs for American workers. By enforcing trade
    laws and agreements, we will ensure a level playing field for America's
    workers. American workers can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere
    when the rules are fair.
        Rob Portman is America's Trade Representative. He's also my friend.
    I know his integrity and his wisdom and his dedication. And I know he's
    the right man to carry out our bold agenda at this important moment for
    world trade.
        I want to thank you all again for coming. Congratulations, Rob.

    [[Page 810]]

    Note: The President spoke at 2:34 p.m. in Room 450 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to
    Ambassador Portman's father, William Portman, his wife, Jane Portman,
    and their children, Joseph ``Jed'' Portman, William Portman, and Sarah
    ``Sally'' Portman; Janna Ryan, wife of Representative Paul Ryan; and
    former Representative Rick Lazio of New York. The transcript released by
    the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of
    Ambassador Portman.