[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[May 15, 2007]
[Pages 580-581]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following a Discussion With Prime Minister Fredrik 
Reinfeldt of Sweden
May 15, 2007

    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
    We have just had a wide-ranging, significant dialog. We talked about 
a lot of areas of interest. Two areas that I think really will have a 
profound effect on our respective countries, as well as on the world, 
are the issues of climate change and trade.
    Let me start with trade. The Prime Minister is very interested in 
the Doha round; he's interested in U.S. strategies to achieve success in 
the Doha round. I assured him that we're committed to achieving a world 
that trades more freely, that we recognize we have obligations to do--to 
deal with our agricultural subsidies in order to move the Doha round 
forward, that Sue Schwab is committed to 
working with our European counterparts as well as President Lula of Brazil, Prime Minister Singh of India, two countries that represent others 
involved in the Doha round. And we believe that it's

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possible, very possible, that we'll be successful. And so we're moving 
forward optimistically on this issue.
    Secondly, we talked about climate change. The Prime Minister is 
concerned about greenhouse gases. I share your concerns about this 
issue. We talked about how, on the one hand, we can work together. As I 
understand, we're signing some agreements that have--that move forward 
alternative energy proposals. I assured the Prime Minister that here at 
home, that I'm concerned about the environmental issues as well as the 
national security implication for being too dependent on oil.
    I shared with him my optimism about reducing U.S. gasoline 
consumption by 20 percent over the next 10 years by promoting 
alternative fuels. I talked to him about our desire to work with Europe 
and China and India and Japan and Australia and other countries about an 
international framework that will meet the following objectives: One, 
economic vitality and growth; two, the advance of new technologies; and, 
third, obviously, the effects that will have on reducing greenhouse 
gases.
    The Prime Minister made this a center point of our conversation, and 
I fully appreciate and understand why. I appreciate the leadership 
you've taken on this important issue, not only in your country but at 
the EU as well. It's been noticeable to me here in the United States, 
and I congratulate you for being a strong leader that you are.
    All in all, we've had a wonderful discussion. And I welcome you here 
to the Oval Office.
    Prime Minister Reinfeldt. Thank you very much. It's been great. 
Thank you.
    Well, I should also say that I pointed out the importance of 
President Bush's leadership on the Doha round. There are too few in the 
world fighting for free trade, so we need the President in that. And I 
hope that we could, during a very short span, bring this to an end.
    And I was so grateful for the comments and leadership on the climate 
issue. It will be debated many years to come. So, thank you very much 
for that.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir; appreciate you coming.

Note: The President spoke at 11:05 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House.