[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 11 (Monday, March 21, 2005)]
[Pages 456-457]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Representative Rob Portman To Be 
United States Trade Representative

March 17, 2005

    Good morning. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Congressman 
Rob Portman to be our next United States Trade Representative. For more 
than a decade, Rob Portman has been a superb Representative of the 
Second District of Ohio. He's earned the trust of his constituents and 
the admiration of his colleagues. He brings a record of achievement to 
this new assignment.
    As a Member of the House leadership, Rob has shown he can bring 
together people of differing views to get things done. He's been a 
tireless advocate for America's manufacturers and entrepreneurs. He's a 
former international trade lawyer who has shown a deep dedication to 
free and fair trade, and now he will bring that commitment to his new 
role as U.S. Trade Representative.
    As an Ohioan, Rob knows firsthand that millions of American jobs 
depend on exports, including one in every five factory jobs. Our country 
is home to about 5 percent of the world's population, and that means 95 
percent of our potential customers are abroad. To keep our economy 
growing and creating jobs, we need to continue opening foreign markets 
to American products. Rob knows that America's farmers and workers can 
compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere in the world, so long as the 
rules are fair.
    Under the outstanding leadership of Ambassador Bob Zoellick, the 
U.S. Trade Representative's office helped bring China and Taiwan into 
the World Trade Organization

[[Page 457]]

and worked with Congress to secure Trade Promotion Authority. Bob and 
his team have completed free trade agreements with 12 nations on 5 
continents, that will open a combined market of 124 million consumers 
for America's farmers, manufacturers, and small-business owners. I 
appreciate his fine service, and I will continue to count on his wisdom 
and good judgment in his new post as Deputy Secretary of State.
    When he is confirmed by the Senate, Rob Portman will build on 
Ambassador Zoellick's achievements. I've asked him to take on a bold 
agenda. We need to continue to open markets abroad by pursuing bilateral 
free trade agreements with partners around the world. We need to finish 
our work to establish a Free Trade Area of the Americas, which will 
become the largest free trade zone in the world. We need to complete the 
Doha Round negotiations within the World Trade Organization, to reduce 
global barriers to trade. We must continue to vigorously enforce the 
trade laws on the books so that American businesses and workers are 
competing on a level playing field.
    Rob is the right man to carry out this agenda. I've known him for 
many years. He is a good friend, a decent man, and a skilled negotiator. 
He understands that trade creates jobs, raises living standards, and 
lowers prices for families here at home. Rob also understands that as 
the world trades more freely, it becomes more free and prosperity 
abounds.
    Rob Portman will be a fine leader for the dedicated men and women 
who work in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. I'm grateful 
he's agreed to serve. I'm grateful to his wife, Jane, and their three 
children, Jed, Will, and Sally. I urge the Senate to promptly confirm 
this outstanding nominee as America's Trade Representative, and I look 
forward to welcoming Rob into my Cabinet.
    Congratulations.

Note: The President spoke at 9:36 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Representative Portman. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.