    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 23, 2008]
    [Pages 107-108]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks During a Briefing With Mayors on Free Trade Agreements
    January 23, 2008

        I'm so honored that mayors from around our country have come. First
    of all, I want to thank you all very much for serving. I've often said
    being mayor is a lot tougher than being President--I don't have to fill
    the potholes and empty the garbage. [Laughter] But I thank you for
    serving our country.
        We've got mayors from both political parties here. We didn't have a
    political discussion; we had a discussion on what's best for America,
    particularly given the economic uncertainty we face. I talked to them
    about my desire to work with the Congress to get a stimulus package
    passed, one that's going to be robust enough to affect the economy,
    simple enough for people to understand it, and efficient enough to have
    an impact. And I'm confident that we can get something done. There's a
    spirit of--that is--that says, we need to take a fundamentally strong
    economy and help it with a--deal with the uncertainties with a progrowth
    package.
        One way we can also send a message that we can--want to continue to
    grow is to open up markets for U.S. products and services. We were
    talking about these trade votes that are coming up in front of the
    Congress and the importance of getting markets opened up for our workers
    and entrepreneurs. These trade agreements that we're about to vote on--
    there are goods coming from their countries coming to our country
    relatively tariff free; our goods and services going to their country
    with a tariff on it. In other words, they're not treating us the way
    we're treating them.
        The American people expect us to be--expect America to be treated
    fairly, and that's what these free trade agreements do. It certainly
    doesn't make any sense to say in a country like Colombia, your goods can
    come in our way, but our goods can't come your way--being treated the
    same way. And by opening up markets, by having us treated fairly, we'll
    have 100 million new customers. And I like that opportunity for American
    workers and farmers and

    [[Page 108]]

    businesspeople. See, I believe we can compete with anybody, anywhere, so
    long as the rules are fair.
        And so these mayors who are living close to the people understand
    that by opening up markets, businesses in their communities and workers
    in their communities will benefit. And I want to thank you all for
    coming. We have a good opportunity to get the deal done, and I'm looking
    forward to working with Congress to get these packages passed. These are
    progrowth, and they're good for America. And thanks for giving Secretary
    Gutierrez and I a chance to visit with
    you.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House.