[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 27 (Monday, July 12, 1993)]
[Pages 1286-1287]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Market Access Agreement and an Exchange With Reporters in 
Tokyo

 July 7, 1993

    The President. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to read a statement 
about the market access agreement that was reached. Ambassador Kantor, I 
know, has already been down here answering your questions, and Secretary 
Christopher and Secretary Bentsen are here.
    I want to try to explain why I can't take a broad range of questions 
on the G-7 summit. Under the rules of the summit, we can't discuss 
what's going on while it's going on unless we get an exemption. Since 
we've actually made an agreement on this, I can make the following 
statement.

    The breakthrough achieved today in the international trade talks is 
good news for America and good news for the world. It means more jobs 
and higher incomes for our people. While there are difficult 
negotiations ahead, today's agreement on manufactured goods breaks the 
logjam in the Uruguay round. For years, talks in that round have 
languished. G-7 leaders have emerged from these summits pledging renewed 
commitment to complete the round. Their pledges have gone unfulfilled. 
But this year, we have recaptured the momentum.

    If we can complete the Uruguay round by the end of this year, and I 
believe we can now, then this agreement will bring the largest tariff 
reductions ever. It will lower duties on 18 categories of manufactured 
goods from paper to chemicals to electronics. It eliminates tariffs 
entirely, that is, it creates global free trade for eight major sectors 
including farm implements, steels, and pharmaceuticals. This agreement 
means new jobs and new growth in the United States and in other nations. 
It proves that government can be a productive partner with business, 
helping to open markets and create jobs.

    Special praise is due to the European Community, to Canada, and to 
Japan, who joined with us in this effort; to our negotiator, Ambassador 
Mickey Kantor; and to the United States Congress which voted last week 
to renew my fast track authority to complete this round.

    With today's accord, I am more determined than ever to press ahead 
with the Uruguay round by the end of this year. This really can mean an 
enormous number of jobs to the American people. When we came here, 
frankly, we did not know whether we could get an agreement on market 
access for manufactured goods. It is a very, very good sign that the 
agreement was achieved not only because of the jobs that this holds for 
Americans but because of the promise it holds to actually complete the 
Uruguay round.

[[Page 1287]]

G-7 Meetings

    Q. Mr. President, could you just tell us whether you're getting to 
know the other leaders and what the mood was at the meetings?
    The President. Good mood. It was a good mood. Of course, I know--I 
have spent time with several of them already. But so far it's been a 
very good mood. We had over 3 hours all alone where we just talked about 
various things. And I'm looking forward to more of this time. It's very 
valuable, actually, getting to know them because there are so many 
things we have to do together.
    Q. What about the Japanese agreement?
    Q. Do you feel, Mr. President, that they're trying to size you up, 
take your measure?
    The President. I don't know. I'm getting to know them. I'm having a 
good time.

U.S. Leadership

    Q. Does it answer any of the questions about leadership, America's 
leadership?
    The President. Well, I think Mr. Kantor probably told you how this 
agreement came about and what the sequence of events was. But I don't 
think there's any question that our country played its appropriate role 
in getting this agreement.
    Q. Any closer to the agreement guidelines for the Japanese?
    The President. Bye.

Note: The President spoke at 7 p.m. at the Okura Hotel. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of these remarks.