Posted on 10/16/2008 4:52:32 PM PDT by snugs
Today the President Signsed H.R. 7222, the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension
Pray for President Bush -- Day 2955 - McCain/Palin--Day 49.
The First lady Laura Bush spoke at the launching of the Iraq Cultural Heritage Project at the Iraq Embassy in Washington, she also spoke with Ladies in White during a video teleconference in the Situation Room of the White House.
Today vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke at Rallies in Bangor Maine and Elon, N.C
Enjoy Sanity Island
QUOTE OF THE DAY
President Bush Signs H.R. 7222, the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Room 350
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, please be seated. Thank you all for coming. I am pleased that legislation extending the Andean Trade Preference Act has made it to my desk, and I'm looking forward to signing this piece of legislation.
With this bill, our nation is showing our commitment to economic growth in our hemisphere -- and to a global system based upon free and open trade. And I want to thank the United States Congress for passing this bill with strong bipartisan support.
I appreciate members of my administration who worked hard on the bill: Condi Rice, Carlos Gutierrez, and Sue Schwab. I want to thank members of the Diplomatic Corps who have joined us. I welcome Luis Moreno, the President of the Inter-American Development Bank. I want to thank the members of the congressional staff who are here.
Across the world, citizens are concerned about the financial crisis -- and they should be. And our governments are working together to address it. This past weekend, I met with the finance ministers from the G7 and G20 -- organizations representing some of the fastest- and largest-growing economies in the world. Yesterday, I joined other G8 leaders in a statement that reaffirms our commitment to resolve the crisis. In other words, we're working together. We want to make sure we're coordinated in our response. All our nations are carrying out a comprehensive plan of action to help unfreeze credit markets and restore confidence in our financial systems.
These are urgent short-term steps. In the long run, one of the best ways to restore confidence in the global economy is by keeping markets open to trade and investment. Last year, America set a record by exporting more than $1.6 trillion of goods and services. Exports now make up a greater share of our gross domestic product than at any time in our history. People find good-paying jobs when they work for businesses that export.
Opening markets benefits our trading partners. For example, this deal, this law I'm signing, will help hardworking people in countries affected. It will help people have a better way of life. We want there to be a prosperous neighborhood. It's in the interest of the United States that prosperity spreads throughout our neighborhood.
So Congress was right to pass this bill ensuring duty-free access to the U.S. market for trading partners in South America, including our friends Colombia and Peru. The Andea [sic] Trade Preference Act allows us to suspend trade preferences with countries that do not live up to their promises. And unfortunately, Bolivia has failed to cooperate with the United States on important efforts to fight drug trafficking. So, sadly, I have proposed to suspend Bolivia's trade preferences until it fulfills its obligations.
Now that members of Congress have ensured duty-free access for American -- South American products entering our markets, they also need to ensure duty-free access for U.S. products entering South American markets. Congress has a good opportunity to take a step in that direction by approving our free trade agreement with Colombia. More than 90 percent of Colombia's exports currently enter the U.S. duty free. Yet American goods sold in Colombia continue to face high tariffs. The Colombia free trade agreement would eliminate these trade barriers. It will level the playing field for America's businesses and farmers and ranchers and workers.
Seems to me it would make a lot of sense to simply asking the Congress to sign a trade deal that allows us to be treated just like we've treated other people. Unfortunately, nearly two years have passed since the United States and Colombia signed our free trade agreement. During that time, an estimated $1.3 billion of tariffs have been levied on American products exported to Colombia. These tariffs reduce the competitiveness of thousands of American companies that do business in that nation. By approving our free trade agreement, Congress can directly benefit American workers and ranchers and farmers -- and give them greater confidence about our economic future.
Congress is coming back to Washington next month. One of their top priorities should be to approve this vital agreement with Colombia -- as well as with Panama and South Korea. These free trade agreements will strengthen our relationships with key allies. They will create new opportunities for our consumers and businesses. They will reassure our trading partners that America will not give in to pessimism or protectionism. They will show that we honor our commitments.
And now it's my honor to sign the Andean Trade Preference Act.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
President George W. Bush signs H.R. 7222, the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The bill will extend the Generalized Systems of Preferences (GSP), designed to help developing countries expand their market presence and strengthen their economies, and the Andean Trade Pact, which waives duties on imports from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in accordance with a 1991 law. Looking on are Ambassador Susan Schwab, the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. White House photo by Eric Draper
President Bush picks-up his dog Barney before walking into the main residence of the White House following his arrival, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 in Washington.
BUSH ROCKS
BUSH ROCKS
BUSH ROCKS
BUSH ROCKS
President Bush speaks before signing the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008
President Bush signs the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Standing behind Bush are, from left, United States Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
President Bush is applauded after signing the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Standing behind Bush are, from left, United States Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
President Bush waves after signing the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Standing behind Bush is United States Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, left, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right
First lady Laura Bush walks with Iraq Ambassador to the U.S., Samir Sumaidaie, at the launching of the Iraq Cultural Heritage Project at the Iraq Embassy in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008.
First lady Laura Bush delivers remarks at the launching of the Iraq Cultural Heritage Project at the Iraq Embassy in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008.
First lady Laura Bush, joined by Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez (R), talks with the Ladies in White in a video teleconference in the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, October 16, 2008. The Ladies in White is an organization that includes spouses and other relatives of jailed dissidents. The organization was formed in 2003 to protest the arrest of 75 dissidents by the Cuban regime. Members of the organization have been consistently detained, threatened, and at times beaten by police during their peaceful protests.
Republican vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, right, with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, reacts as she sees the crowd waiting for her in an airplane hangar during a campaign stop at the Bangor Airport, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, in Bangor, Maine.
Thanks for the ping!
Republican vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, speaks at a campaign stop at the Bangor Airport, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, in Bangor, Maine. The campaign plane is seen in the background.
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, shakes the hand of Hank Williams Jr. during a rally at Elon University in Elon, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008. Williams opened the campaign rally with a tribute song for her.
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, speaks during a rally in Elon, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, waves to the crowd during a rally in Elon, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008.
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, points to someone in the crowd after a rally in Elon, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008
evenin’ snugs!
Laura is classy, but Sarah is hot! :) LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.