[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 41 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Pages 1324-1329]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Miami, Florida

October 12, 2007

    The President. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you for the warm 
welcome. It's great to be in Miami. I've been looking for my little 
brother. [Laughter] He must have finally found work. I thank--
[laughter]. Just kidding, Jeb.

[[Page 1325]]

    I thank the Center for Hemispheric Policy and the Greater Miami 
Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this event. And I appreciate you all 
coming. I appreciate the support that you give for enterprise here in 
south Florida.
    I know you know that--as business leaders and foreign policy 
thinkers, that one of the pivotal issues facing our country is expanding 
trade and investment. And that's what I want to talk to you about today. 
And it's a timely message because Congress has some important decisions 
coming up. I've made up my mind about the importance of trade and 
investment, and now Congress is going to have to make up its mind about 
trade and investment, especially when it comes to free trade agreements 
with Peru, Panama, and Colombia.
    These agreements will level the playing fields for businesses, 
workers, and farmers here in the United States. These agreements will 
help our friends in neighborhoods, and help them lift them out of 
poverty. These agreements will counter the false populism promoted by 
some nations in the hemisphere. These agreements will strengthen the 
forces of freedom and democracy throughout the Americas. I urge the 
congressional leaders to pass these three Latin American agreements as 
soon as possible.
    And I appreciate you giving me a chance to come here and explain why 
they're important.
    I want to thank my friend Senator Mel Martinez for introducing me. I 
appreciate his willingness to serve in the United States Senate. I know 
this is a nonpartisan meeting, but let me just tell you, he's doing a 
fine job.
    I want to thank three members from the congressional delegation who 
are here, the Diaz-Balart boys--Lincoln and Mario--as well as Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen. I'm honored you all are here. Thanks for coming.
    I appreciate so very much Manny Diaz for joining us today. Mr. 
Mayor, I'm honored you are here. I thank you for your time. I want to 
thank the other State--[applause]--thank the State and local officials 
who have joined us. I really appreciate former Secretary Donna Shalala, 
who happens to be the president of the University of Miami, for 
sponsoring this event. I thank Hank Klein, the chairman of the Greater 
Miami Chamber of Commerce, as well for hosting this. And I thank my 
friend Chuck Cobb, who's the chairman of the Florida Free Trade Area of 
the Americas, Inc., which is a group of citizens concerned about free 
trade.
    We meet at an historic time for this country's economy. Last week, 
we learned that September was America's 49th consecutive month of job 
creation--that's the longest uninterrupted period of job growth on 
record. And just yesterday, we learned that the American economy set new 
records for exports in a single month. More exports support better and 
high-paying jobs, and that's important for our citizens to understand. 
People who work for companies which export have a higher paying job than 
someone who doesn't. And so I believe strongly, to make sure that the 
historic records we've set in the last couple of days continue, that 
we've got to expand trade.
    In Miami you know what I'm talking about. You see, you see the value 
of trade every day. This city is known as the ``Gateway to the 
Americas.'' Your openness to Latin America has helped make this city a 
vibrant center of culture and commerce and enterprise. People who know 
something about Miami understand the importance of trade to this city's 
future. Last year, $72 billion in trade passed through the Miami area, 
and nearly half of it went to our neighbors in the south. That trade 
helped the greater Miami economy grow at 6.7 percent in 2005--that's 
more than twice the national average. And the unemployment rate here has 
dropped to 4.1 percent--that is below the national average.
    I think the case for trade is unmistakable in Miami, and we need to 
make that case all over the country. I've come to a place that has 
benefited from trade so others around the country can understand it can 
happen in their areas as well. Expanding trade and investment has been a 
commitment--longstanding commitment of the United States. I'm not the 
first President to ever stand up and say, we need to expand trade. As a 
matter of fact, Presidents from Eisenhower to Kennedy to Reagan and 
Clinton have worked to seize the opportunities of free and fair trade. 
Opening up foreign

[[Page 1326]]

markets for America's goods and services has been a high priority of my 
administration. In January 2001, America had free trade agreements in 
force with just three countries. Now we have agreements in force with 14 
countries, including 7 in Latin America.
    Unfortunately, if we can just talk about trade around America--I 
don't know what it's like here in Miami, but when you're discussing 
trade around America, you hear troubling signs. There is a protectionist 
sentiment that is beginning to gain strength in America and in Congress. 
Recent trade agreements have passed by slim margins. Deals that were 
really good for the American economy barely passed the Congress. 
Advocates of economic isolationism in Congress have claimed the 
agreements I've just talked about would be ``bad for American workers.'' 
One Congressman offered this prediction: If the agreements passed, 
``U.S. college grads will increasingly see a future in flipping 
hamburgers.'' That's the kind of rhetoric we're dealing with when it 
comes to whether or not this Nation ought to be confident and open up 
markets for goods and services around the world.
    The results of the agreements are beginning to come in, and they're 
proving the critics wrong. In the 4 years since we implemented a free 
trade agreement with Chile, American exports to that country have more 
than doubled. In the 4 years since we implemented a free trade agreement 
with Singapore, American exports to that country have increased by about 
50 percent. And in just 1 year since we began implementing a free trade 
agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic, American 
exports to that region have grown by 13 percent.
    And meanwhile, the U.S. economy has continued to grow and job 
expansion has been strong and hourly wages are on the rise and the job 
market for college graduates is bright. When trade expands, American 
workers gain because our workers are making products for people around 
the world who want to buy products that say ``Made in the U.S.A.''
    Congress now has an opportunity to build on the success by passing 
new free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Panama. Today, all 
three of these countries enjoy duty-free access to U.S. markets for 
virtually all their products. They're shipping their goods our way, and 
most of those products enter America duty free. Yet when we ship our 
products their way, most of our products face significant tariffs. Our 
free trade agreements would knock down many of these barriers and level 
the playing field for our businesses and farmers and workers. Together, 
these agreements would expand access to 75 million new customers with a 
combined GDP of $245 billion. This May, my administration and Democratic 
leaders in Congress came together to forge a bipartisan consensus to 
consider these trade deals. And now it is the time to move forward with 
these progrowth, prodemocracy agreements.
    And the stakes are high. As Congress debates, people across the 
hemisphere are watching to see if America will uphold its commitment to 
free and fair trade. In a recent letter to congressional Democrats, 
former Secretary Shalala--and I thank you for your leadership on this 
issue--and dozens of her Democratic colleagues wrote this: ``Latin 
America is up for grabs. We fully recognize that asking the United 
States Congress to vote on these trade agreements is politically 
charged. Nonetheless, rejecting these agreements would set back regional 
U.S. interests for a generation. We must not walk away now.''
    Others who signed the letter include former Senators Bob Graham, Sam 
Nunn, and Bennett Johnston, as well as many others from the Clinton 
administration. Those who signed the letter are absolutely correct. 
Members of both parties in Congress should view these trade agreements 
for what they are, an historic opportunity to strengthen our economy at 
home and advance democracy and prosperity throughout our hemisphere. And 
Congress should approve these agreements soon, so that people across the 
Americas can see the benefits.
    The first new Latin American trade agreement that my administration 
completed is with Peru. This agreement has great promise because Peru 
has one of the fastest growing economies in South America. Last year 
alone, Peru's economy expanded by 8 percent. And with greater prosperity 
in both our

[[Page 1327]]

countries, trade between the United States and Peru has doubled over the 
past 3 years.
    The free trade agreement with Peru would ignite even greater 
opportunities for both our nations. It would be especially beneficial to 
businesses and workers and farmers here at home. The free trade 
agreement would immediately eliminate most of Peru's industrial tariffs 
as well as many of the barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. It would 
also provide new market access and fair treatment to U.S. companies that 
provide services and invest in Peru. Here's what that would mean. If 
you're a Miami company exporting electronics to Peru, you would go from 
paying thousands of dollars in tariffs on the products you shipped to no 
tariff at all. In other words, your product would become more 
competitive. It would make it more likely you'd be able to sell into a 
new market. It would instantly make the products affordable. It would 
give our businessperson more money to invest here at home. The workers 
would be more likely able to keep their jobs.
    A free trade agreement with Peru would strengthen our partnership 
with an important democracy in South America. Last year, Peru held two 
rounds of free and fair elections. And through their representatives, 
the Peruvian people have made it clear they want to increase their ties 
to the United States. The Peruvian Legislature passed the free trade 
agreement by an overwhelming margin. And now the United States Congress 
should show America's commitment in return by passing the Peru agreement 
quickly and with a strong bipartisan majority.
    The second of the new Latin American trade agreements that my 
administration completed is with Colombia. Colombia is home to 44 
million potential customers, more than the population of Florida, 
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina put together. After 
years of hardship, Colombia's economy is strong and growing, with 6.8 
percent expansion last year alone. Colombia is now our fifth largest 
trading partner in Latin America. And Colombia is the largest market for 
U.S. agricultural exports in South America.
    The free trade agreement would open up Colombia's growing economy to 
our producers. It would immediately eliminate tariffs on more than 80 
percent of American industrial and consumer goods exports. It would 
provide significant new duty-free access for American crops. The effects 
would be far-reaching. In Colombia, families would enjoy higher 
standards of living thanks to more affordable American products and more 
reliable access to our markets. Here at home, about 8,000 U.S. companies 
that export to Colombia would find new buyers for their goods and 
services. And for the first time in history, they would be able to 
compete in Colombia on a level playing field.
    The strategic implications of this agreement are as important as the 
economic benefits. Colombia is one of America's strongest allies in the 
Western Hemisphere. It has been under assault by a formidable network of 
terrorists and drug traffickers, which has put its democracy at risk. In 
recent years, Colombia's democratically elected President has taken 
courageous steps to stop drug traffickers and rein in paramilitary 
groups and enforce the law.
    The United States has supported President Uribe's efforts through an 
initiative called Plan Colombia, which was launched by President Bill 
Clinton and strongly supported by my administration. The results are 
striking. Since 2000, kidnapings and terrorist attacks and murders have 
all dropped substantially. Convictions have increased. Colombia has 
extradited hundreds of drug traffickers and terrorists to the United 
States. And the Colombian people are taking back their country from the 
narcoterrorists.
    Some in Congress have expressed concern over violence in Colombia, 
particularly attacks on trade unionists. President Uribe takes these 
concerns seriously, and he has responded decisively. He's established an 
independent prosecutors unit to investigate and punish homicides against 
labor unionists. He's allowed the International Labor Organization to 
station a permanent representative in Bogota. He's worked to offer young 
Colombians better alternatives to a life of violence and drugs, 
including the new jobs and economic opportunities that would come from a 
trade agreement with the United States.

[[Page 1328]]

    Colombia's record is not perfect, but the country is clearly headed 
in the right direction and is asking for our help. Both Houses of the 
Colombian Legislature have expressed overwhelming support for the trade 
agreement with the United States. And now they're waiting to see if we 
will uphold our end of the deal. If Congress were to reject this 
committed ally, we would damage America's credibility in the region and 
make other countries less willing to cooperate in the future. As Prime 
Minister Stephen Harper of Canada put it, ``If the United States turns 
its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back our cause far 
more than any Latin American dictator could hope to achieve.'' By its 
bold actions, Colombia has proved itself worthy of America's support, 
and I urge the United States Congress to pass this vital legislation as 
soon as possible.
    The third of the new Latin American trade agreements that my 
administration completed is with Panama. Panama has the fastest growing 
economy in Central America, with a growth rate of more than 8 percent 
last year. Our nations have strong ties dating back to the construction 
of the Panama Canal. Trade has always been a key part of our 
relationship. Last year alone, our nations exchanged nearly $3 billion 
worth of goods.
    The free trade agreement with Panama will build on this vibrant 
trade relationship. It will immediately eliminate tariffs on 88 percent 
of our industrial and consumer goods exports to Panama. It will open a 
new market for American farmers and ranchers, including fruit growers 
here in Florida. It will increase access to Panama's service sector, 
including its key financial services market. It will open opportunities 
for American businesses to participate in the Panama Canal expansion 
project. This is a good agreement, and we will continue to work closely 
with Congress and the Government of Panama to address the issues 
necessary to get it approved.
    Collectively, these three trade agreements have the potential to 
boost our economy and strengthen our allies and spread prosperity 
throughout our region. We want people to be prosperous in our 
neighborhood. It's in the interests of the United States that prosperity 
spread throughout the--Latin America and South America. And yet many of 
our citizens feel uneasy about competition, and they worry that trade 
will cost jobs. You know, I understand why. I understand that if you're 
forced to change a job halfway through a career, it can be painful for 
your family. I know that. And that is why I'm a big believer in trade 
adjustment assistance that helps Americans make the transition from one 
job to the next.
    In other words, I believe there is a role for the Federal 
Government, and that is, when a person loses a job because of trade, 
there's help for that person and family, help to get that person a new 
education--the community college system, for example, to be able to 
train that person for jobs which actually exist. Additional college 
enhances a worker's productivity. And when your productivity is 
enhanced, so your wages go up. And so rather than focus on--only on the 
risks or the negative, I think it's important for this country to focus 
on the much larger benefits of trade. We'll help those whose--lost a job 
because of trade. But it's important for our country to understand, 
trade yields prosperity, and prosperity means people will more likely be 
able to find work.
    In the debate ahead, Members of Congress should keep in mind the 
American businesses and workers and farmers who will gain, who will 
benefit from a level playing field for their goods and services. They 
should keep in mind that American consumers will enjoy more choices and 
better prices that come with trade. They should keep in mind the 
millions in our hemisphere who will be lifted out of poverty. And above 
all, Members of Congress should have confidence in the ability of the 
United States to compete in the world. And they should show that 
confidence by approving these trade agreements with bipartisan votes.
    In addition to these agreements, my administration will continue 
working to promote trade in other ways. At the national level, we will 
work closely with Congress to pass a landmark free trade agreement with 
South Korea. This agreement alone is projected to add more than $10 
billion to our economy, and like our agreements in Latin America, it 
would strengthen our relationship with a democratic ally in a critical 
part of

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the world. At the regional level, we're seeking broad trade agreements 
in the Americas and Asia Pacific. And at the global level, we're pushing 
hard for a successful conclusion to the Doha round of trade talks, which 
has the potential to lower trade barriers across the world.
    All of this will bring us closer to a world that lives in liberty, a 
world that grows in prosperity, a world that trades in freedom. In our 
hemisphere, that means an Americas where democratic nations work 
together to advance peace and justice and security; where the 
opportunity to succeed is as real in Lima as it is in Los Angeles, in 
Bogota as it is in Boston; where the opportunity for people to realize 
dreams is just as real in Panama City, Panama, as it is in Panama City, 
Florida. [Laughter]
    And the vision I have for our hemisphere includes a free and 
democratic Cuba. [Applause] Thank you. Sit down. Thank you.
    Audience member. Viva Bush! [Laughter]
    The President. I'm not through yet. [Laughter]
    In Havana, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing an end. As 
Cuba enters a period of transition, nations throughout the hemisphere 
and the world must insist on free speech, free assembly; they must 
insist that the prisoners in Cuba be free. And ultimately, we must 
insist on free and competitive elections. [Applause] Sientese. 
[Laughter]
    I appreciate all you're doing to help make the vision of a free and 
prosperous Americas possible. That's why I've come to thank you. As 
business leaders who invest in new products and trade with your 
neighbors, you add to the vitality and dynamism of this region, and that 
helps our country. As scholars, people who study how to advance freedom 
and peace and prosperity, you've helped people understand the benefits 
of free trade, and I appreciate what you're doing.
    I ask you to do one thing more, and that is to make sure your voices 
are heard to Members of the United States Congress. You don't need to 
worry about these three; don't waste your time. [Laughter] But there are 
people who need to hear from you. I would ask you to tell them that the 
free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Panama are essential to 
our economy. I would ask you to remind them they are essential to our 
security. And I'd ask you to tell them that they're important for our 
moral interests.
    Thank you for giving me a chance to come by. I appreciate you. Que 
Dios los bendiga.

Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. at the Radisson Miami Hotel. In his 
remarks, he referred to former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; and President 
Fidel Castro Ruz of Cuba.