[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7788 of May 14, 2004


 
World Trade Week, 2004


By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Participating in the world economy makes America's economy stronger. By
opening new markets for American products and services, bringing lower
prices and more choices to American consumers, and attracting foreign
companies to invest and hire in the United States, free and fair trade
helps create better jobs for American workers. During World Trade Week,
we celebrate the benefits trade brings to our citizens, our economy, and
to countries and people around the world.
Since World War II, the United States has led the world in advancing
trade to create jobs for American workers, increase choice for
consumers, and ensure that quality American goods and services are sold
on every continent. Today, millions of American jobs depend on our goods
and services being sold overseas, and foreign-owned companies and their
suppliers employ millions of Americans here at home.
My Administration has aggressively negotiated trade agreements that
slash foreign tariffs and remove the barriers to selling American goods
and services around the world. Since 2001, we have entered into free
trade agreements with Chile and Singapore and concluded negotiations
with Australia, Morocco, the Dominican Republic, and five countries in
Central America. Free trade agreement negotiations with Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Bahrain, Thailand, and five member countries of
the Southern African Customs Union are in progress or about to begin. We
are also working with our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere to create
a Free Trade Area of the Americas that will form the world's largest
common market and improve the lives of citizens in America and these
countries. By opening foreign markets to American

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exports and encouraging foreign countries to set up operations in the
United States, all of these agreements help create more and better jobs
in our Nation. They also help increase prosperity for our workers.
For American businesses and their employees to continue to outperform
other countries, America must remain the best place to do business and
invest capital. In addition, we must ensure that our citizens are
prepared for the high-skilled jobs our economy is creating. By fostering
an environment where the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes and by
providing workers with the best skills and education in the world, we
can maintain our country's economic leadership and help all our citizens
achieve a better life.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 16 through May 22,
2004, as World Trade Week. I encourage all Americans to observe this
week with events, trade shows, and educational programs that celebrate
the benefits of trade to our Nation and the global economy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH

PROCLAMATION 7789--MAY 21, 2004