For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 13, 2004
Statement by the President
Boeing Delivery Center
Boeing Field/King County International Airport
Seattle, Washington
4:28 P.M. PDT
THE PRESIDENT: It's my honor to come to this vital and important
United States manufacturing company. Boeing is a great name in American
industry. Not only does Boeing make a great product, the Boeing Company
has got great workers. It's been my honor to spend some time with the
people who work here, talking about our world, talking about the need
for our country to be confident when it comes to world trade.
I assured the folks with whom I was talking that my administration
is dedicated to free and fair trade. See, I believe if our country is
treated fairly, we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere.
The Boeing Company competes against Airbus, which is a European
company. Airbus was founded about 30 years ago and has received, in
those 30 years, large government subsidies from European nations, and
continues to receive them. And I think those subsidies are unfair. I
think it makes it -- it's unfair to this American company that these
European governments continue to subsidize Airbus. And so I informed
these good folks who work here that I've instructed U.S. Trade
Representative Bob Zoellick to inform European officials in his
September meeting that we think these subsidies are unfair and that he
should pursue all options to end these subsidies -- including bringing
a WTO case, if need be. We believe in free trade -- we want that free
trade to be fair, as well. And getting rid of the subsidies of Airbus
will make the trade fair; will make the playing field level.
I also want to say something about those residents in Florida. I
have been in touch with the governor and FEMA Director Mike Brown about
the -- Hurricane Charley, that is hitting the coast, the western coast
of Florida. Our prayers are with you and your families tonight. We have
deployed resources to help. I have declared an emergency and the
process is now in place to aid, provide federal aid to those who may be
affected by this hurricane. And as I repeat, we ask God's blessing on
those who were in the path of that hurricane.
Thank you all very much.
END 4:31 P.M. PDT
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