[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 16 (Monday, April 23, 2001)]
[Pages 634-635]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for Quebec, Canada

April 20, 2001

Summit of the Americas

    Good morning. In a few moments Laura and I will depart for Quebec 
City in Canada to attend the Summit of the Americas. This meeting will 
bring together leaders from all 34 democratic nations in our hemisphere.
    Together we will put forward an agenda to strengthen our 
democracies, to tackle common challenges, and we will seek to expand our 
prosperity by expanding our trade. This is an important meeting for the 
United States. The future of our Nation is closely tied to the future of 
our hemisphere.
    Many Americans trace their heritage to other parts of the Americas, 
which enriches our culture. Many American businesses are finding growth 
and trade in the Americas, which expands our economy. And all Americans 
have an interest in the peace and stability of our closest neighbors.
    Our goal in Quebec is to build a hemisphere of liberty. We must 
approach this goal in a spirit of civility, mutual respect, and 
appreciation for our shared values. And we must make real progress.
    Progress in this hemisphere requires an explicit commitment to human 
freedom. Only democratic nations can attend the Summit of the Americas. 
And every nation in our hemisphere, except one, will be there. This is 
an extraordinary achievement, one that

[[Page 635]]

would have been unthinkable just 15 years ago.
    Progress requires a commitment to tearing down the barriers of 
poverty, disease, and ignorance so that every individual in our 
hemisphere may realize his or her full potential. The United States 
wants to work together with our neighbors to find ways to give all our 
children quality education, because learning and literacy are the 
foundations for democracy and for development.
    Progress requires new efforts against illegal drugs. Our country is 
committed to bringing down the demand for drugs here at home. And we 
want to work more closely with countries where drugs are produced and 
traded so countries can better fight the supply of drugs at their 
source.
    And progress in our hemisphere requires a renewed commitment to 
creating a Free Trade Area of the Americas. This will make our 
hemisphere the largest free trade area in the world, encompassing 34 
countries and 800 million people.
    We already know from the North American Free Trade Agreement that 
free trade works. Since 1994, total trade among Canada, Mexico, and the 
United States has more than doubled. NAFTA has created more choices at 
lower prices for consumers in all three of our nations. And it has 
created good jobs for our workers. Now is the time to extend these 
benefits of free trade throughout the entire hemisphere.
    Open trade in our hemisphere will open new markets for our farmers 
and ranchers, workers and service providers, and high-tech 
entrepreneurs. It will fuel the engines of economic growth that create 
new jobs and new income, and it will apply the power of the markets to 
the needs of the poor. It will give new incentives for nations to reform 
their economies. It will reinforce our hemispheric--democratic gains 
because people who operate in open economies eventually demand more open 
societies.
    This third Summit of the Americas will take the next steps in 
creating an entire hemisphere that is both prosperous and free. Es una 
tarea importante. Tenemos que aprovechar la oportunidad. It's a great 
task and an extraordinary opportunity to make the Americas the land of 
opportunity. And I look forward to getting started this weekend in 
Quebec.
    Thank you all very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:50 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House.