DATE=04/04/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH TRADE (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-288360 (CQ)

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// Re-running w/Editor's note : Tape must conform with Text ///

INTRO: President Bush wants Senate Democrats to give him broader authority to negotiate overseas trade deals. VOA's Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush is also calling on Congress to pass legislation promoting trade in South America's Andean countries.

TEXT: When legislators return from their Easter recess next week, President Bush says their first order of business should be passing Trade Promotion Authority to give him the ability to negotiate overseas deals that would then be put to Congress for a simple yes-or-no vote.

Mr. Bush says that authority will allow him to create higher-paying jobs for American workers by expanding overseas markets that he says are crucial to helping the economy recover from recession.

/// BUSH ACT ///

I need that authority. Every day we go by without that authority is another day we're missing opportunities to help our economy, to help our workers, to help our country, to relate to our friends around the world.

/// END ACT ///

Five of the last six U-S presidents have had Trade Promotion Authority which helped create the North American Free Trade Agreement and contributed to the founding of the World Trade Organization.

Speaking at the U-S State Department Thursday, President Bush says without that authority Americans are missing business opportunities overseas.

/// SECOND BUSH ACT ///

There are thousands of entrepreneurs in American who benefit from trade. Trade is not just good for mega-corporate America. Trade is very good for farmers and ranchers.

/// END ACT ///

The president's push for Trade Promotion Authority follows criticism from political supporters that he abandoned his free-trade approach last month by imposing duties on steel imports to protect domestic producers.

President Bush says he has always been committed to free trade as a way to create more jobs at home and more democracy abroad.

/// THIRD BUSH ACT ///

Societies that are open to commerce across their borders are more open to democracy within their borders. And for those of us who care about values and believe in values, not just American values, but universal values that promote human dignity, trade is a good way to do that. It is a heck of a lot easier to promote human dignity and human rights through trade than it is through lectures.

/// END ACT ///

President Bush says it is in America's interests to have a prosperous neighborhood. That is why he also wants Congress to pass legislation backing more free trade with Andean nations.

Both bills have passed the Republican-led House of Representatives and are awaiting action in the Democratic-controlled Senate.(SIGNED)

NEB/PT