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Skriven 2005-05-12 23:39:34 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050512) for Thu, 2005 May 12
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President Discusses CAFTA-DR
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 12, 2005

President Discusses CAFTA-DR
The Rose Garden

President's Remarks
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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

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