[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 29 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Pages 1258-1260]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004

July 13, 2004

    Thanks for coming. In just 4 years, the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act has shown the power of free markets to improve the lives 
of people in both the United States and Africa. By reducing barriers to 
trade, this law has increased export, created jobs, and expanded 
opportunity for Africans and Americans alike. It has given American 
businesses greater confidence to invest in Africa and encouraged African 
nations to reform their economies and governments to take advantage of 
the opportunities that AGOA provides.
    So today I'm pleased to build on that success and extend the law's 
benefits long into the future by signing the AGOA Acceleration Act of 
2004. This legislation is a product of strong bipartisan cooperation, 
and I thank

[[Page 1259]]

the Members of the House and the Senate for working together on this 
very important piece of legislation. And I want to thank those in the 
audience who worked hard to see that the bill made it to my desk as 
quickly as it did.
    Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for your leadership. Secretary 
Powell is a strong believer in the potential of the continent of Africa, 
and so am I.
    I appreciate so very much Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for 
joining us today. Senator, thank you for coming. I'm pleased to see that 
my friend, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Max 
Baucus is still standing. [Laughter] And I appreciate your leadership, 
sir. We're honored that Dick Lugar, the chairman of the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee, is with us. Mr. Chairman, thank you, and thank you 
for your clear vision for a better world. I appreciate so very much the 
members of the Ways and Means Committee who are here with us, the 
chairman and ranking member--Chairman Bill Thomas, who's worked so hard 
for this legislation, as has his friend and ranking member, Charlie 
Rangel, both fine Members of the Congress. Thank you all for being here, 
and thanks for your good work. I also am honored that Ed Royce, the 
chairman of the International Relations Subcommittee on Africa, has 
joined us. And soon we'll be joined by Donald Payne, the ranking member 
as well.
    These Members put in good work. They worked hard. They brought the 
other Members of Congress along with them, many of whom are with us.
    I am honored that the dean of the African diplomatic corps stands 
with me today. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for coming. I'm proud you're 
here. And thank you for representing the other ambassadors who have 
joined us today. We appreciate you taking time to come. And thanks for 
supporting this legislation.
    There's a growing consensus in both Africa and the United States 
that open trade and international investment are the surest and fastest 
ways for Africa to make progress. That's what you have said; that's what 
Congress has responded to. For too many years, the world's efforts to 
promote Africa's development were focused on aid. Development aid is 
important--nothing wrong with aid. My administration has substantially 
increased aid to Africa, and we appreciate working with the Members to 
do that.
    But as Uganda's President Museveni has said, ``By itself, aid cannot 
transform societies. Only trade can foster the sustained economic growth 
necessary for such transformation.'' This African leader understands 
that when nations close their markets and opportunity is hoarded by a 
privileged few, no amount of development aid is ever enough. But when 
nations respect their people, open their markets, expand freedom and 
opportunity to all their citizens, entire societies can be lifted out of 
poverty and despair. This is a hopeful piece of legislation. As America 
works for open markets and opportunity on the African Continent, we will 
also confront disease and hunger and the violence that undermines 
progress and hope.
    I'm deeply concerned about the humanitarian and human rights crisis 
in Darfur, Sudan. For the sake of peace and basic humanity, I echo the 
sentiments of the Secretary of State. I call upon the Government of the 
Sudan to stop the Janjaweed violence. I call on all parties of the 
conflict to respect the cease-fire, to respect human rights, and to 
allow for the free movement of humanitarian workers and aid. The United 
States and the United Nations and the leadership of the African Union 
are working to bring relief to the suffering people of that region. 
America will continue to strongly support these efforts for peace.
    One way to spread peace is to encourage political and economic 
reform across Africa by opening markets here in the United States. It's 
important for our people to understand, by opening United States markets 
we make it more likely there will be peace on the continent of Africa.
    AGOA nations are strengthening the rule of law. They are lowering 
trade barriers. They're combating corruption and eliminating child 
labor. They're setting an important example for the entire continent, 
demonstrating that governments that respect individual rights and 
encourage the development of their markets are more likely to grow 
economically and achieve political stability.

[[Page 1260]]

    Like all good partnerships, AGOA has been beneficial to all parties. 
Free trade between the United States and sub-Sahara Africa has created 
jobs, wealth, and opportunity on both continents. Last year under AGOA, 
African exports to the United States increased by 55 percent and 
African--and American businesses saw a 15-percent increase in our 
exports to sub-Sahara Africa--that equals almost $7 billion. The most 
notable gains were made by American companies selling agricultural goods 
and machinery and transportation equipment.
    See, when you sell goods in Africa, it means somebody is finding 
work here at home. Trade must work both ways. AGOA has been beneficial 
to the people of the continent of Africa and to the people of the United 
States of America. That's why this is a good piece of legislation.
    Since its enactment in 2000, AGOA has generated over $340 million in 
investment and created thousands of jobs. Things are happening because 
of the law we're extending today, positive things for people in Africa 
and in America. The enactment of this law will help ensure that this 
mutually beneficial trade continues. Trade and investment from around 
the world is essential to world peace. The United States and the nations 
of the sub-Saharan Africa are working together to break down trade 
barriers around the world--not just between ourselves but around the 
world.
    My trade representative, Ambassador Bob Zoellick, is in Africa right 
now. He's meeting with his counterparts from across the continent to 
prepare for the World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva later this 
month. These are important meetings. They're important meetings for the 
people of the United States; they're important meetings for the people 
on the continent of Africa. And the reason why is because we want to 
advance our shared economic agenda, and it's very important for our AGOA 
partners to help make these talks in Geneva a success.
    Pass the word on to your capitals: No region has more to gain from 
free markets than Africa. That's the message. And no region has more to 
lose from a stalled WTO process than Africa. By working together and by 
our example, we can show the world that a new global trade agreement can 
bring greater prosperity to all nations.
    Real prosperity is the work of many years. I know that. It's hard 
work. It's hard to change the status quo. This law encourages the change 
in the status quo.
    I'm so pleased and proud to see the ambassadors from the African 
nations who are here. Thank you all for coming. You've worked hard to 
make AGOA a success. You've worked hard to spread the message in the 
halls of Congress, and your hard work has paid off. I share your 
optimism about Africa's future. That's what we believe. Those of us who 
are standing up here believe in the future of Africa. We appreciate the 
commitment to freedom. We appreciate your understanding that we all have 
an obligation to spread opportunity throughout all corners of this 
important part of the world.
    And now, it is my honor to sign this important piece of legislation.

Note: The President spoke at 10 a.m. in Room 350 of the Dwight D. 
Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to 
Ambassador Roble Olhaye of Djibouti. H.R. 4103, approved July 13, was 
assigned Public Law 108-274.