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 Home > News & Policies > May 2001

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 10, 2001

The President's 2001 International Trade Agenda
The President's 2001 International Trade Agenda
2001 International Trade Legislative Agenda

"Open trade fuels the engines of economic growth that create new jobs and new income. It applies the power of markets to the needs of the poor. It spurs the process of economic and legal reform. It helps dismantle protectionist bureaucracies that stifle incentive and invite corruption. And open trade reinforces the habits of liberty that sustain democracy over the long term."

-- President George W. Bush, April 17, 2001


Introduction & Background

For  some  60  years,  Presidents  and  Congresses  of  both parties worked together  to  open markets around the globe.  This successful collaboration is  among  the  main  reasons  for  17  years of economic growth, peace and freedom that we know today.

But since 1994, the Executive Branch has not had the authority it needs from the Congress to negotiate agreements to continue this prosperity. The bill has now come due. The European Union has 27 preferential or special customs agreements with other countries and is negotiating 15 more. Japan is negotiating a free trade agreement with Singapore and considering agreements with Mexico, Korea and Chile. There are over 130 preferential trade agreements in the world today -- and the United States is a party to only two of them.

Now,  more  than  ever,  U.S. leadership is essential to reinvigorating the international  trading  system,  including  launching a new round of global negotiations, as well as regional and bilateral negotiations.

History  has shown that expanded trade -- imports as well as exports -- leads to  more prosperous U.S. businesses, more choices of goods and lower prices for  consumers,  and  more  opportunities  for American farmers and workers leading  to  higher  wages, more jobs and economic growth.  Expanding trade brings  particular benefits to lower-income Americans who are squeezed both as consumers and taxpayers.

Expanding  trade  also  has  many  benefits  abroad.   Open markets promote economic  and  political  freedom  around the world; economic and political freedom  in  turn creates competition, opportunity and independent thinking that strengthen  democracy;  and  greater  political freedom and democracy across the globe substantially enhance U.S. national security. As we dismantle trade barriers around the world, especially in the developing world, we help create the economic and social conditions necessary for countries to make progress on the environment, observance of labor standards, the protection of children, and other critical issues.

The  President's trade agenda for 2001 is intended to further each of these benefits  of expanding markets for American consumers, farmers and workers, and  to  advance  a  forward strategy for freedom, economic development and increased  living  standards  around  the  world by pursuing a new round of global  trade  negotiations,  a  Free Trade Area of the Americas, and other important regional and bilateral agreements.


The President's 2001 International Trade Agenda

President  Bush's 2001 legislative agenda for international trade, outlined below,  reflects  his  commitment  to  open  markets  around  the world for American  workers,  farmers, and businesses and to provide lower prices and greater  choices  for  U.S. consumers and industries.  It also reflects the President's  commitment to work with the Congress to rebuild the bipartisan consensus  for  American leadership in the trade arena.  It serves no one's interest for the United States to remain on the sidelines.

For that reason, the President has placed enactment of U.S. Trade Promotion Authority at the top of his trade legislative agenda.  The attached outline presents aconceptual framework that distills those principles the President believes should shape a renewed grant of trade negotiating authority. Central to this approach is flexibility for the President to take full advantage of the market-opening opportunities that present themselves in the coming years while maintaining the closest possible consultation and collaboration with the Congress.

The  President  seeks to build an American trade agenda from the ground up, reflecting the views and interests of American farmers, workers, businesses, and the American people. Our negotiating objectives -- to open foreign markets for U.S. goods, services, farm products, and intellectual property, combat unfair trade practices, protect American businesses abroad from discriminatory treatment to name but a few -- must represent an agenda that serves the interests of all Americans.

An  important  part  of  that  agenda is addressing trade-related labor and environmental  concerns.  As President Bush said last month in Quebec City: "Our  commitment  to  open  trade must be matched by a strong commitment to protecting our environment and improving labor standards."

The conceptual framework for U.S. Trade Promotion Authority set out below recognizes that there are many ways to carry out this commitment. The TPA framework makes clear that these goals must be pursued in a way that respects U.S. sovereignty and avoids self-defeating protectionism.

Enclosed  with this agenda is an illustrative "toolbox" of actions that the United  States  can  take in combination with trade negotiations to promote these important goals.  The President has expressed his desire to work with the  Congress  to refine these ideas as well as the other concepts included in the framework for U.S. Trade Promotion Authority.

The  outline  that  follows  also describes the other key components of the President's  2001  trade legislative agenda.  As an important complement to the grant of U.S. Trade Promotion Authority, the President seeks to improve this country's trade adjustment assistance programs for workers by emphasizing improvements in skills training. To rebuild a national consensus in support of trade, American workers must have the tools that allow them to compete in new jobs and new industries when job transitions occur. Consistent with the President's overall goals for training and education, these programs should increasingly be geared toward helping American workers meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The  President's agenda also asks the Congress to implement three important commercial  agreements to help bolster security and promote open markets in vital  regions  of the world -- a bilateral free-trade agreement with Jordan and  bilateral  trade  agreements  with Vietnam and Laos.  In addition, the President  urges  the  Congress  to  re-authorize the Generalized System of Preferences  program and Andean Trade Preferences Act, and pass legislation providing  similar  trade  benefits  for the nations of southeast Europe, a region that has been beset by conflict in recent years.  These programs are important  because  they allow us to help developing countries and emerging markets  begin the process of integrating themselves into the world trading system.

Last  year,  the Congress enacted the African Growth and Opportunity Act to encourage  and  promote  economic  growth and reform in sub-Saharan Africa. This  legislation  holds  real  promise  for  helping  to integrate African economies  into  the  world  trading  system.  The Congress should consider whether more progress can be made along these lines.

In conclusion, the President has developed a broad trade legislative agenda that  serves  America's best interests.  The Administration is committed to working  with  the Congress, the states, and interested groups to shape the agenda  and  build  the  consensus  needed  to  pass trade legislation with overwhelming  bipartisan support.  From the President's perspective, now is the  time  to  roll  up  our  sleeves and get to work on behalf of American workers, farmers, businesses, and a brighter American future.


Outline of the President's International Trade Agenda

  1. U.S. Trade Promotion Authority

    1. Statement of Purposes

      1. To achieve:

        1. Economic growth, higher living standards, higher wages and full employment in the United States;

        2. Economic growth, development, reduction of poverty, and increased democratization around the world;

        3. Mutually supportive trade and environment, and trade and labor, policies;

        4. More open, equitable and reciprocal market access for U.S. goods, services and investment;

        5. The reduction or elimination of barriers and other trade-distorting policies and practices that decrease market opportunities for U.S. exports;

        6. The reduction or elimination of unfair trading practices; and

        7. A more open, transparent, and effective system of international trade disciplines and procedures.

      2. To pursue:

        1. A new round of global trade negotiations under the auspices of the WTO to promote global economic growth and reinvigorate the international trading system;

        2. A Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement to expand economic cooperation and opportunity in the Western Hemisphere; and

        3. Other regional and bilateral trade negotiations, including free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, to advance our national interests.

    2. Negotiating Objectives to Advance U.S. Priorities

      3. Expand market opportunities for U.S. goods, services and intellectual property by:


      1. Reducing or eliminating tariffs and other barriers that impede U.S. exports from competing in foreign markets.

      2. Enhancing market opportunities for U.S. agriculture.

      3. Dismantling barriers to exports of U.S. services.

      4. Keeping electronic commerce free from trade barriers.

      5. Reducing or eliminating artificial or trade-distorting barriers to U.S. foreign investment.

      6. Encouraging protection for U.S.-created intellectual property and creating export opportunities for goods embodying U.S. intellectual property.

      7. Preserving our ability to combat unfair trade practices.

      8. Encouraging the protection of children and adherence to core labor standards in connection with international trade in a manner consistent with U.S. sovereignty and trade expansion.

      9. Encouraging mutually supportive trade and environmental protection polices, in accordance with the objective of sustainable development and in a manner consistent with U.S. sovereignty and trade expansion.

      10. Ensuring that U.S. rights under trade agreements are secured through rapid, effective, and transparent enforcement procedures appropriate to the parties, nature, and subject matter of the agreements.

      11. Improving the transparency and management of international trade organizations and agreements.

      12. Helping developing countries realize the benefits of the international trading system.

      13. Encouraging governments to observe procedural due process in adopting rules and regulations and to combat corruption affecting international trade.

    3. Additional Measures in Support of Negotiations

      1. In determining whether to initiate negotiations, take into account whether the country has implemented its Uruguay Round obligations.

      2. Work to ensure that provisions in trade agreements are compatible with important domestic policy objectives, such as health, safety, environmental protection, and improved employment opportunities.

      3. Consider environmental effects when formulating negotiating positions, take into account the results of environmental reviews performed, and encourage trading partners to conduct environmental reviews of trade agreements.

    4. Strengthening Congressional Consultation

      1. In order for TPA to apply to negotiated agreements, each agreement must make progress toward achieving applicable negotiating objectives.

      2. In addition to seeking input from the public, the Administration will also notify and consult with the Congress and advisory committees at key stages of each negotiation and after the agreement is concluded, including by:

        1. Notifying the Congress before beginning negotiations and consulting on specific objectives.

        2. Keeping relevant Congressional committees and Congressional trade advisors informed of negotiations on a timely basis at all stages of the negotiations.

        3. Notifying and consulting with the Congress and trade advisory committees well in advance of signing any agreement regarding how the agreement meets applicable negotiating objectives.

        4. Consulting with relevant Congressional committees on how an agreement affects issues within their jurisdiction, on plans for implementing the agreement, and on any related agreements the President plans to conclude.

    5. Duration of Authority

      6. The President needs U.S. Trade Promotion Authority for a sufficient time to allow completion of several regional and bilateral agreements and to begin and possibly complete global trade negotiations. Anextension mechanism would also allow the Congress to determine whether to continue this authority.

    6. Tariff Authority

      7. The President will need the appropriate authority to reduce tariffs, including the authority to fulfill the objectives of WTO zero-for-zero and harmonization agreements.

  2. Improve Worker Training, Education and Adjustment

    3. Re-authorize and improve Trade Adjustment Assistance programs to promote worker re-training necessitated by sudden economic dislocation.

  3. Implement the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement

    1. To create a free trade area between the United States and Jordan in order to support Jordan's domestic economic reforms, encourage efforts by other support Jordan's domestic economic reforms, encourage and enhance regional stability.

    2. To provide benefits to consumers and businesses in the United States and Jordan by increasing choices and lowering prices of goods and services.

    3. To encourage bilateral business ties and thereby increase employment opportunities in Jordan.

  4. Implement Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement

    1. To promote economic stability and openness in Vietnam through enhanced trade and investment, advancing the bipartisan normalization process.

    2. To open the Vietnamese market to U.S. goods and services, and provide strong intellectual property rights protection through comprehensive trade and investment liberalization by Vietnam.

    3. To provide benefits to consumers in the United States and Vietnam by increasing choices and lowering prices of goods and services.

    4. To provide authority for the President to apply normal trade relations duties to Vietnamese goods and to put the agreement into effect.

  5. Renew Andean Trade Preference Act

    1. To renew and expand the ATPA program to promote export diversification and broad-based economic development that provides sustainable economic alternatives to drug-crop production in the Andean region.

    2. To bolster democracy and the rule of law in the region.

    3. To complement U.S. aid programs by providing trade opportunities for private firms in Andean countries.

    4. To support the promotion of core labor standards by making the program's eligibility criteria conform to those in existing preferential trade programs.

  6. Enact the Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act

    1. To promote stability and economic development in Southeast Europe through increased access to the U.S. market and the facilitation of regional investment and to encourage a broader opening of markets in Europe and elsewhere to goods from within the region.

    2. To support the promotion of core labor standards by adopting criteria that conform to those in existing preferential trade programs.

    3. To encourage governments in the region to eliminate trade in persons.

  7. Re-authorize the General System of Preferences Program

    1. To assist developing countries move from dependency on foreign aid towards opportunity, growth, reform, and openness.

    2. To promote the integration of least developed countries into the global trading system.

    3. To provide trade incentives that promote economic growth and alleviate poverty in beneficiary developing countries.

    4. To promote stronger economic and political ties between the United States and developing countries.

    5. To provide benefits to U.S. consumers by increasing choices and lowering prices.

    6. To encourage the protection of intellectual property rights, assist in promoting market access for U.S. exports, and promote observance of core labor standards.

  8. Implement Laos Bilateral Trade Agreement

    1. To promote economic stability and openness in Laos through enhanced trade and investment, advancing the bipartisan normalization process.

    2. To open the Lao market to U.S. goods and services, and provide strong intellectual property rights protection.

    3. To provide benefits to consumers in the United States and Laos by increasing choices and lowering prices of goods and services.

    4. To provide authority for the President to apply normal trade relations duties to Lao goods and to put the agreement into effect.

Labor and Environment "Toolbox"

The  following  illustrative  list  identifies  a  "toolbox" of actions the United  States could take in combination with trade negotiations to promote the protection of children, adherence to core labor standards, and mutually supportive trade and environmental protection policies.

Labor:

  • Use labor standards in existing and proposed preferential trade programs -- e.g., the Generalized System of Preferences program and programs under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Andean Trade Preference Act, the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, and the Southeast Europe Trade Preference Act -- to build respect for, adherence to, and enforcement of core labor standards.

  • Employ U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other assistance programs to encourage acceptance of, adherence to, and national enforcement of core labor standards.

  • Urge the World Bank and the regional development banks to encourage borrowing countries to guarantee core labor standards and to collaborate in international efforts to reduce child labor.  The multilateral and regional development banks also should try to ensure that in consultations on their country operations with civil society, unions are represented.

  • Encourage the World Trade Organization (WTO) to cooperate with international financial institutions to examine the interrelationships between social issues and global economic integration, including between labor standards and trade.

  • Strengthen and raise the profile of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and provide strong support for ILO initiatives aimed at fostering member countries? adherence to core labor standards, such as the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the new Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor.

  • Strengthen and raise the profile of the ILO by improving the ILO's ability to fact-find, spotlight, and hold member countries accountable for violations of core labor standards by strengthening the ILO's existing mechanisms for enforcing member countries' adherence to the conventions they have ratified.

  • Encourage cooperative arrangements (joint work programs) between the WTO and the World Health Organization and the ILO.

  • Use the labor standards adopted by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to build respect for, and adherence to, core labor standards.

Environment:

  • Improve the effectiveness of United Nations environmental programs, in particular those focused on environmental capacity-building.

  • Work to increase the extent to which key environmental concerns are included in multilateral and regional development bank lending and structural adjustment strategies, e.g., by bolstering efforts to strengthen environmental and related safeguards built into lending programs, by supporting initiatives to enhance the capacity of borrowing governments to protect the environment, or by giving consideration to augmenting funding for debt-for-nature swaps.

  • As appropriate, highlight in National Trade Estimate country reports, and work to address, measures that both negatively affect the environment and distort trade and investment flows.

  • Improve the effectiveness of the North American Development Bank's activity on environmental infrastructure projects.

  • Propose the inclusion in WTO Trade Policy Reviews and in APEC Individual Action  Plans of discussion of ways in which a country's or a member economy's trade and environment policies mutually reinforce each other.

  • Expand environmental elements in USAID's country plans.

  • Use the environmental policies of the U.S. Export Import Bank to build respect for, adherence to, and enforcement of environmental protection laws and regulations.

  • Promote adherence to environmental guidelines by foreign export credit agencies.

  • Use the environment standards adopted by OPIC to build respect for, and adherence to, environmental protection laws and regulations.