For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 12, 2005
President Discusses CAFTA-DR
The Rose Garden
11:39 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, thank you for coming. Welcome to the
White House, and welcome to the Rose Garden. I want to thank the six
Presidents who have joined me today. We've just had a constructive
dialogue in the Cabinet Room about our mutual interests. Our mutual
interests are prosperity for our people and peace in the region. I am
honored to be here with six really fine leaders, people who have stood
strong for democracy and who care deeply about the people of their
nations.
We're here today, as well, because the best way to achieve peace
and prosperity for our hemisphere is by strengthening democracy and
continuing the economic transformation of Central America and the
Dominican Republic. And all of us agree that the Central American and
Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement presents us with an historic
opportunity to advance our common goals in an important part of our
neighborhood.
CAFTA brings benefits to all sides. For the newly emerging
democracies of Central America, CAFTA would bring new investment that
means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers. Central
American consumers would have better access to more U.S. goods at
better prices. And by passing this agreement, we would signal that the
world's leading trading nation was committed to a closer partnership
with countries in our own backyard, countries which share our values.
For American farmers, businesses, and workers, CAFTA would create a
more level playing field. Under existing rules, most of Central
America's exports already enter the United States duty free. But our
products still face hefty tariffs there. By passing CAFTA, we would
open up a market of 44 million consumers who already import more of our
goods and services than Australia or Brazil. And we would create
incentives for factories to stay in Central America and use American
materials rather than relocate to Asia where they are more likely to
use Asian materials.
Finally, for the Western hemisphere, CAFTA would bring the
stability and security that can only come from freedom. Today a part
of the world that was once characterized by oppression and military
dictatorship now sees its future in free elections and free trade. And
we must not take these gains for granted. These are small nations, but
they're making big and brave commitments, and America needs to continue
to support them as they walk down the road of openness and
accountability. By transforming our hemisphere into a powerful free
trade area, we will promote democratic governance, human rights, and
economic liberty for everyone.
The United States was built on freedom -- and the more of it we
have in our backyard, the freer and safer and more prosperous all of
the Americas will be. I applaud these leaders for their vision. I
thank them for working with members of Congress from both political
parties to persuade those members about the importance of this piece of
legislation. I assured them I will join in the efforts to get this
bill passed. This bill is good for Central American countries, it is
good for America.
I want to thank you all for being here. Que dios les bendiga.
END 11:44 A.M. EDT
|