[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 48 (Monday, December 4, 2000)]
[Page 2943]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement Announcing Negotiations on a Comprehensive Bilateral Free 
Trade Agreement With Chile

November 29, 2000

    The United States of America (USA) and Chile have agreed to start 
negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 
The FTA will build on the progress that has been made by the U.S.-Chile 
Joint Commission on Trade and Investment that was established during 
President Clinton's state visit to Chile in April 1998. This endeavor 
reflects our mutual commitment to advancing free and open trade and 
investment in the Americas and around the world.
    The USA and Chile are both strong supporters of the Free Trade Area 
of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations. The negotiation of a bilateral free 
trade agreement between us will provide further impetus for the FTAA 
negotiations. The United States and Chile reaffirm their strong 
commitment to the multilateral trading system and the launch of a new 
round in 2001. The FTA will include labor and environmental provisions 
along the lines of the U.S.-Jordan FTA.
    I have directed Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky to assign a high 
priority to advancing negotiations for an FTA.