Home > News & Policies > April 2001

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 20, 2001

Remarks by the President Upon Departure for Quebec, Canada for the Summit of the Americas
The South Lawn

      Listen to the President's Remarks

10:50 A.M. EDT

     THE  PRESIDENT:   Good  morning.   In  a  few moments Laura and I will depart  for  Quebec  City  in  Canada to attend the Summit of the Americas. This  meeting will bring together leaders from all 34 democratic nations in our hemisphere.

     Together  we will put forward an agenda to strengthen our democracies, to  tackle  common challenges; and we will seek to expand our prosperity by expanding  our  trade.  This is an important meeting for the United States. The future of our nation is closely tied to the future of our hemisphere.

     Many  Americans  trace  their heritage to other parts of the Americas, which  enriches  our  culture.  Many American businesses are finding growth and  trade  in  the Americas, which expands our economy.  And all Americans have an interest in the peace and stability of our closest neighbors.

     Our  goal  in  Quebec  is  to  build a hemisphere of liberty.  We must approach this goal in a spirit of civility, mutual respect and appreciation for our shared values.  And we must make real progress.

     Progress  in  this hemisphere requires an explicit commitment to human freedom.   Only  democratic  nations can attend the Summit of the Americas. And  every nation in our hemisphere, except one, will be there.  This is an extraordinary  achievement,  one  that  would have been unthinkable just 15 years ago.

     Progress  requires  a  commitment  to  tearing  down  the  barriers of poverty,  disease, and ignorance so that every individual in our hemisphere may  realize  his  or  her full potential.  The United States wants to work together  with  our neighbors to find ways to give all our children quality education,  because learning and literacy are the foundations for democracy and for development.

     Progress  requires  new efforts against illegal drugs.  Our country is committed  to bringing down the demand for drugs here at home.  And we want to  work more closely with countries where drugs are produced and traded so countries can better fight the supply of drugs at their source.

     And  progress  in  our  hemisphere  requires  a  renewed commitment to creating  a free trade area of the Americas.  This will make our hemisphere the largest free trade area in the world, encompassing 34 countries and 800 million people.

     We already know from the North American Free Trade Agreement that free trade  works.   Since  1994 total trade among Canada, Mexico and the United States  has  more  than  doubled.   NAFTA has created more choices at lower prices  for consumers in all three of our nations.  And it has created good jobs  for  our  workers.   Now is the time to extend these benefits of free trade throughout the entire hemisphere.

     Open trade in our hemisphere will open new markets for our farmers and ranchers,  workers  and service providers, and high-tech entrepreneurs.  It will  fuel  the  engines  of  economic  growth that create new jobs and new income.   And  it  will  apply the power of the markets to the needs of the poor.   It  will give new incentives for nations to reform their economies. It  will  reinforce  our  hemisphere's  democratic gains because people who operate in open economies eventually demand more open societies.

     This third Summit of the Americas will take the next steps in creating an  entire  hemisphere  that  is  both  prosperous  and free.  Es una tarea importante.   Tenemos  que aprovechar la oportunidad. It's a great task and an  extraordinary opportunity to make the Americas the land of opportunity. And I look forward to getting started this weekend in Quebec.

     Thank you all very much.

                                 -END-      10:57 A.M. EDT