[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 21 (Monday, May 24, 2004)]
[Page 908]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7788--World Trade Week, 2004

 May 14, 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 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

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 18, 
2004]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 15, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 
19.