*EPF212 01/15/2002
Transcript: Bush Presses Senate on Trade Negotiating Authority
(President accuses opponents of playing politics) (500)

President Bush has gone to the port city New Orleans to bolster support for Senate passage of trade promotion authority (TPA), otherwise known as fast track.

In January 15 remarks at the port of New Orleans, the president reiterated his position that U.S. workers can compete successfully in free, fair trade.

The House of Representatives voted 215-214 in December for its version of TPA. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle says he intends to schedule a Senate vote soon after the Senate returns from recess.

The president cited support for his position from longshoremen working at the port.

Under TPA, Congress restricts itself only to approve or reject a negotiated trade agreement, within strict time limits and without amendments. Since the previous grant expired early in 1994, attempts to reauthorize TPA have failed over labor and environmental issues.

Following is an excerpt of a transcript of Bush's remarks:

(begin transcript)

And that's what's got to happen on this issue of trade. One of the reasons I'm traveling down the spine of America and on the mighty Mississippi is because I want to remind our fellow citizens how important trade is. It's important to these workers that we trade. The people who are loading these ships load them because we're trading around the world. The farmers who are selling product can sell more if we trade. And if the farmers sell more of their product, we can sell more of the machines made in Moline, Illinois, so the good folks up there, the UAW [United Auto Workers labor union] workers, can work.

I'm worried about jobs. And I believe if you trade more, there are more jobs available for hardworking Americans. (Applause.) There are some who play politics with the trade issue. They want to shut down trade. I like to remind people, those who shut down trade aren't confident. They're not confident in the American worker; they're not confident in the American entrepreneur; they're not confident in American products.

I'm just the opposite. I know we've got the best workers in the world; I know we can make the best products in the world. And therefore, we ought to have free and fair trade around the world. (Applause.) I'm not the only one that feels that way. Some of the longshoremen that I met coming in said, we need trade so I can keep working. I got a nice letter from your Mayor. He said, you know, he's sorry he couldn't see me because he's on a trade mission to Mexico City. However, I want you to know that I fully support your efforts to pass legislation giving your administration fast track authority to negotiate trade agreements. (Applause.)

This isn't a Republican issue; this isn't a Democrat issue. Trade is a jobs issue. And the United States Senate needs to hear the voices of the working people and get me a bill I can sign. (Applause.)

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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