    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [October 12, 2007]
    [Pages 1302-1307]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Miami, Florida
    October 12, 2007

        The President. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you for the warm
    welcome. It's great to be in Miami. I've been looking for my little
    brother. [Laughter] He must have finally found
    work. I thank--[laughter]. Just kidding, Jeb.
        I thank the Center for Hemispheric Policy and the Greater Miami
    Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this event. And I appreciate you all
    coming. I appreciate the support that you give for enterprise here in
    south Florida.
        I know you know that--as business leaders and foreign policy
    thinkers, that one of the pivotal issues facing our country is expanding
    trade and investment. And that's what I want to talk to you about today.
    And it's a timely message because Congress has some important decisions
    coming up. I've made up my mind about the importance of trade and
    investment, and now Congress is going to have to make up its mind about
    trade and investment, especially when it comes to free trade agreements
    with Peru, Panama, and Colombia.
        These agreements will level the playing fields for businesses,
    workers, and farmers here in the United States. These agreements will
    help our friends in neighborhoods, and help them lift them out of
    poverty. These agreements will counter the false populism promoted by
    some nations in the hemisphere. These agreements will strengthen the
    forces of freedom and democracy throughout the Americas. I urge the
    congressional leaders to pass these three Latin American agreements as
    soon as possible.
        And I appreciate you giving me a chance to come here and explain why
    they're important.
        I want to thank my friend Senator Mel Martinez for introducing me. I appreciate his willingness
    to serve in the United States Senate. I know this is a nonpartisan
    meeting, but let me just tell you, he's doing a fine job.
        I want to thank three members from the congressional delegation who
    are here, the Diaz-Balart boys--Lincoln
    and Mario--as well as Ileana Ros-
    Lehtinen. I'm honored you all are here.
    Thanks for coming.
        I appreciate so very much Manny Diaz for
    joining us today. Mr. Mayor, I'm honored you are here. I thank you for
    your time. I want to thank the other State--[applause]--thank the State
    and local officials who have joined us. I really appreciate former
    Secretary Donna Shalala, who happens to be
    the president of the University of Miami, for sponsoring this event. I
    thank Hank Klein, the chairman of the Greater
    Miami Chamber of Commerce, as well for hosting this. And I thank my
    friend Chuck Cobb, who's the chairman of the
    Florida Free Trade Area of the Americas, Inc., which is a group of
    citizens concerned about free trade.

    [[Page 1303]]

        We meet at an historic time for this country's economy. Last week,
    we learned that September was America's 49th consecutive month of job
    creation--that's the longest uninterrupted period of job growth on
    record. And just yesterday, we learned that the American economy set new
    records for exports in a single month. More exports support better and
    high-paying jobs, and that's important for our citizens to understand.
    People who work for companies which export have a higher paying job than
    someone who doesn't. And so I believe strongly, to make sure that the
    historic records we've set in the last couple of days continue, that
    we've got to expand trade.
        In Miami, you know what I'm talking about. You see, you see the
    value of trade every day. This city is known as the ``Gateway to the
    Americas.'' Your openness to Latin America has helped make this city a
    vibrant center of culture and commerce and enterprise. People who know
    something about Miami understand the importance of trade to this city's
    future. Last year, $72 billion in trade passed through the Miami area,
    and nearly half of it went to our neighbors in the south. That trade
    helped the greater Miami economy grow at 6.7 percent in 2005; that's
    more than twice the national average. And the unemployment rate here has
    dropped to 4.1 percent; that is below the national average.
        I think the case for trade is unmistakable in Miami, and we need to
    make that case all over the country. I've come to a place that has
    benefited from trade so others around the country can understand it can
    happen in their areas as well. Expanding trade and investment has been a
    commitment--longstanding commitment of the United States. I'm not the
    first President to ever stand up and say, we need to expand trade. As a
    matter of fact, Presidents from Eisenhower to Kennedy to Reagan and
    Clinton have worked to seize the
    opportunities of free and fair trade. Opening up foreign markets for
    America's goods and services has been a high priority of my
    administration. In January 2001, America had free trade agreements in
    force with just three countries. Now we have agreements in force with 14
    countries, including 7 in Latin America.
        Unfortunately, if we can just talk about trade around America, I
    don't know what it's like here in Miami, but when you're discussing
    trade around America, you hear troubling signs. There is a protectionist
    sentiment that are--is beginning to gain strength in America and in
    Congress. Recent trade agreements have passed by slim margins. Deals
    that were really good for the American economy barely passed the
    Congress. Advocates of economic isolationism in Congress have claimed
    the agreements I've just talked about would be ``bad for American
    workers.'' One Congressman offered this prediction: If the agreements passed, ``U.S.
    college grads will increasingly see a future in flipping hamburgers.''
    That's the kind of rhetoric we're dealing with when it comes to whether
    or not this Nation ought to be confident and open up markets for goods
    and services around the world.
        The results of the agreements are beginning to come in, and they're
    proving the critics wrong. In the 4 years since we implemented a free
    trade agreement with Chile, American exports to that country have more
    than doubled. In the 4 years since we implemented a free trade agreement
    with Singapore, American exports to that country have increased by about
    50 percent. And in just 1 year since we began implementing a free trade
    agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic, American
    exports to that region have grown by 13 percent.
        And meanwhile, the U.S. economy has continued to grow and job
    expansion has been strong and hourly wages are on the rise and the job
    market for college graduates is bright. When trade expands, American
    workers gain because our workers are making products for people around
    the

    [[Page 1304]]

    world who want to buy products that say ``Made in the U.S.A.''
        Congress now has an opportunity to build on the success by passing
    new free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Panama. Today, all
    three of these countries enjoy duty-free access to U.S. markets for
    virtually all their products. They're shipping their goods our way, and
    most of those products enter America duty free. Yet when we ship our
    products their way, most of our products face significant tariffs. Our
    free trade agreements would knock down many of these barriers and level
    the playing field for our businesses and farmers and workers. Together,
    these agreements would expand access to 75 million new customers with a
    combined GDP of $245 billion. This May, my administration and Democratic
    leaders in Congress came together to forge a bipartisan consensus to
    consider these trade deals. And now it is the time to move forward with
    these progrowth, prodemocracy agreements.
        And the stakes are high. As Congress debates, people across the
    hemisphere are watching to see if America will uphold its commitment to
    free and fair trade. In a recent letter to congressional Democrats,
    former Secretary Shalala--and I thank you
    for your leadership on this issue--and dozens of her Democratic
    colleagues wrote this: ``Latin America is up for grabs. We fully
    recognize that asking the United States Congress to vote on these trade
    agreements is politically charged. Nonetheless, rejecting these
    agreements would set back regional U.S. interests for a generation. We
    must not walk away now.''
        Others who signed the letter include former Senators Bob
    Graham, Sam Nunn, and Bennett Johnston, as well as many others from the Clinton administration. Those who signed the letter are absolutely
    correct. Members of both parties in Congress should view these trade
    agreements for what they are, an historic opportunity to strengthen our
    economy at home and advance democracy and prosperity throughout our
    hemisphere. And Congress should approve these agreements soon, so that
    people across the Americas can see the benefits.
        The first new Latin American trade agreement that my administration
    completed is with Peru. This agreement has great promise because Peru
    has one of the fastest growing economies in South America. Last year
    alone, Peru's economy expanded by 8 percent. And with greater prosperity
    in both our countries, trade between the United States and Peru has
    doubled over the past 3 years.
        The free trade agreement with Peru would ignite even greater
    opportunities for both our nations. It would be especially beneficial to
    businesses and workers and farmers here at home. The free trade
    agreement would immediately eliminate most of Peru's industrial tariffs
    as well as many of the barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. It would
    also provide new market access and fair treatment to U.S. companies that
    provide services and invest in Peru. Here's what that would mean. If
    you're a Miami company exporting electronics to Peru, you would go from
    paying thousands of dollars in tariffs on the products you shipped to no
    tariff at all. In other words, your product would become more
    competitive. It would make it more likely you'd be able to sell into a
    new market. It would instantly make the products affordable. It would
    give our businessperson more money to invest here at home. The workers
    would be more likely able to keep their jobs.
        A free trade agreement with Peru would strengthen our partnership
    with an important democracy in South America. Last year, Peru held two
    rounds of free and fair elections. And through their representatives,
    the Peruvian people have made it clear they want to increase their ties
    to the United States. The Peruvian Legislature passed the free trade
    agreement by an overwhelming margin. And now the United States Congress
    should show America's commitment in return by passing the Peru

    [[Page 1305]]

    agreement quickly and with a strong bipartisan majority.
        The second of the new Latin American trade agreements that my
    administration completed is with Colombia. Colombia is home to 44
    million potential customers, more than the population of Florida,
    Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina put together. After
    years of hardship, Colombia's economy is strong and growing, with 6.8
    percent expansion last year alone. Colombia is now our fifth largest
    trading partner in Latin America. And Colombia is the largest market for
    U.S. agricultural exports in South America.
        The free trade agreement would open up Colombia's growing economy to
    our producers. It would immediately eliminate tariffs on more than 80
    percent of American industrial and consumer goods exports. It would
    provide significant new duty-free access for American crops. The effects
    would be far-reaching. In Colombia, families would enjoy higher
    standards of living thanks to more affordable American products and more
    reliable access to our markets. Here at home, about 8,000 U.S. companies
    that export to Colombia would find new buyers for their goods and
    services. And for the first time in history, they would be able to
    compete in Colombia on a level playing field.
        The strategic implications of this agreement are as important as the
    economic benefits. Colombia is one of America's strongest allies in the
    Western Hemisphere. It has been under assault by a formidable network of
    terrorists and drug traffickers, which has put its democracy at risk. In
    recent years, Colombia's democratically elected President has taken courageous steps to stop drug traffickers
    and rein in paramilitary groups and enforce the law.
        The United States has supported President Uribe's efforts through an initiative called Plan Colombia,
    which was launched by President Bill Clinton and strongly supported by my administration. The results
    are striking. Since 2000, kidnapings and terrorist attacks and murders
    have all dropped substantially. Convictions have increased. Colombia has
    extradited hundreds of drug traffickers and terrorists to the United
    States. And the Colombian people are taking back their country from the
    narcoterrorists.
        Some in Congress have expressed concern over violence in Colombia,
    particularly attacks on trade unionists. President Uribe takes these concerns seriously, and he has responded
    decisively. He's established an independent prosecutors unit to
    investigate and punish homicides against labor unionists. He's allowed
    the International Labor Organization to station a permanent
    representative in Bogota. He's worked to offer young Colombians better
    alternatives to a life of violence and drugs, including the new jobs and
    economic opportunities that would come from a trade agreement with the
    United States.
        Colombia's record is not perfect, but the country is clearly headed
    in the right direction and is asking for our help. Both Houses of the
    Colombian Legislature have expressed overwhelming support for the trade
    agreement with the United States. And now they're waiting to see if we
    will uphold our end of the deal. If Congress were to reject this
    committed ally, we would damage America's credibility in the region and
    make other countries less willing to cooperate in the future. As Prime
    Minister Stephen Harper of Canada put it,
    ``If the United States turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this
    will set back our cause far more than any Latin American dictator could
    hope to achieve.'' By its bold actions, Colombia has proved itself
    worthy of America's support, and I urge the United States Congress to
    pass this vital legislation as soon as possible.
        The third of the new Latin American trade agreements that my
    administration completed is with Panama. Panama has the fastest growing
    economy in Central America, with a growth rate of more than 8 percent
    last year. Our nations have strong

    [[Page 1306]]

    ties dating back to the construction of the Panama Canal. Trade has
    always been a key part of our relationship. Last year alone, our nations
    exchanged nearly $3 billion worth of goods.
        The free trade agreement with Panama will build on this vibrant
    trade relationship. It will immediately eliminate tariffs on 88 percent
    of our industrial and consumer goods exports to Panama. It will open a
    new market for American farmers and ranchers, including fruit growers
    here in Florida. It will increase access to Panama's service sector,
    including its key financial services market. It will open opportunities
    for American businesses to participate in the Panama Canal expansion
    project. This is a good agreement, and we will continue to work closely
    with Congress and the Government of Panama to address the issues
    necessary to get it approved.
        Collectively, these three trade agreements have the potential to
    boost our economy and strengthen our allies and spread prosperity
    throughout our region. We want people to be prosperous in our
    neighborhood. It's in the interests of the United States that prosperity
    spread throughout the--Latin America and South America. And yet many of
    our citizens feel uneasy about competition, and they worry that trade
    will cost jobs. You know, I understand why. I understand that if you're
    forced to change a job halfway through a career, it can be painful for
    your family. I know that. And that is why I'm a big believer in trade
    adjustment assistance that helps Americans make the transition from one
    job to the next.
        In other words, I believe there is a role for the Federal
    Government, and that is, when a person loses a job because of trade,
    there's help for that person and family, help to get that person a new
    education--the community college system, for example, to be able to
    train that person for jobs which actually exist. Additional college
    enhances a worker's productivity. And when your productivity is
    enhanced, so your wages go up. And so rather than focus on--only on the
    risks or the negative, I think it's important for this country to focus
    on the much larger benefits of trade. We'll help those whose--lost a job
    because of trade. But it's important for our country to understand,
    trade yields prosperity, and prosperity means people will more likely be
    able to find work.
        In the debate ahead, Members of Congress should keep in mind the
    American businesses and workers and farmers who will gain, who will
    benefit from a level playing field for their goods and services. They
    should keep in mind that American consumers will enjoy more choices and
    better prices that come with trade. They should keep in mind the
    millions in our hemisphere who will be lifted out of poverty. And above
    all, Members of Congress should have confidence in the ability of the
    United States to compete in the world. And they should show that
    confidence by approving these trade agreements with bipartisan votes.
        In addition to these agreements, my administration will continue
    working to promote trade in other ways. At the national level, we will
    work closely with Congress to pass a landmark free trade agreement with
    South Korea. This agreement alone is projected to add more than $10
    billion to our economy, and like our agreements in Latin America, it
    would strengthen our relationship with a democratic ally in a critical
    part of the world. At the regional level, we're seeking broad trade
    agreements in the Americas and Asia Pacific. And at the global level,
    we're pushing hard for a successful conclusion to the Doha round of
    trade talks, which has the potential to lower trade barriers across the
    world.
        All of this will bring us closer to a world that lives in liberty, a
    world that grows in prosperity, a world that trades in freedom. In our
    hemisphere, that means an Americas where democratic nations work
    together to advance peace and justice and security; where the
    opportunity to succeed is as real

    [[Page 1307]]

    in Lima as it is in Los Angeles, in Bogota as it is in Boston; where the
    opportunity for people to realize dreams is just as real in Panama City,
    Panama, as it is in Panama City, Florida. [Laughter]
        And the vision I have for our hemisphere includes a free and
    democratic Cuba. [Applause] Thank you. Sit down. Thank you.
        Audience member. Viva Bush! [Laughter]
        The President. I'm not through yet. [Laughter]
        In Havana, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing an end. As Cuba enters a period of
    transition, nations throughout the hemisphere and the world must insist
    on free speech, free assembly; they must insist that the prisoners in
    Cuba be free, and ultimately, we must insist on free and competitive
    elections. [Applause] Sientese. [Laughter]
        I appreciate all you're doing to help make the vision of a free and
    prosperous Americas possible. That's why I've come to thank you. As
    business leaders who invest in new products and trade with your
    neighbors, you add to the vitality and dynamism of this region, and that
    helps our country. As scholars, people who study how to advance freedom
    and peace and prosperity, you've helped people understand the benefits
    of free trade, and I appreciate what you're doing.
        I ask you to do one thing more, and that is to make sure your voices
    are heard to Members of the United States Congress. You don't need to
    worry about these three; don't waste
    your time. [Laughter] But there are people who need to hear from you. I
    would ask you to tell them that the free trade agreements with Peru,
    Colombia, and Panama are essential to our economy. I would ask you to
    remind them they are essential to our security, and I'd ask you to tell
    them that they're important for our moral interests.
        Thank you for giving me a chance to come by. I appreciate you. Que
    Dios los bendiga.

    Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. at the Radisson Miami Hotel. In his
    remarks, he referred to former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; and President
    Fidel Castro Ruz of Cuba.