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News from Saturday 23 March to 24 March 2002
Latin America Free Trade Far Off, Despite Bush Trip
Greg
Flakus
San
Salvador
24
Mar 2002 23:58 UTC
 
President Bush
concluded his trip to Latin America, Sunday. His last stop was the Central
American nation of El Salvador for a half-day visit with regional leaders.
Trade was at the top of the agenda, even though U.S. officials say a trade
agreement with the region remains a long way off.
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| AP |
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| President Bush and El Salvador's President Francisco Flores listened
to a performance of the U.S. national anthem |
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In a joint news
conference with Salvadoran President Francisco Flores, just before the lunch
meeting with all seven regional leaders, Mr. Bush emphasized his commitment to
free trade. He noted that he had proposed a free trade agreement with Central
America in January and that this is part of an overall strategy to strengthen
commerce throughout the western hemisphere.
President Bush
said, "We are also going to continue to pursue the Free Trade of the Americas,
which aims to encompass the entire hemisphere in a free trade agreement.
Completing these agreements will promote prosperity throughout the hemisphere
and reinforce the region's progress towards political, economic and social
reform."
U.S. officials
concede that such agreements are unlikely to be completed any time soon, but
Mr. Bush wants to at least start the process of talking about the issue, with
an eye towards possible future accords.
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| AP |
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| President Bush speaking in El Salvador |
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The president
also responded to a Salvadoran reporter's question about current U.S. barriers
to some agricultural products. Mr. Bush defended current U.S. market policies,
as the most open in the world. "We buy more goods from all around the world
than any nation," he said. "Of course, we are the biggest nation, we are the
biggest market. But nevertheless, we buy billions of dollars of goods on an
annual basis. Billions. I think it is like $650 billion a year the United
States purchases from [other] countries.
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Children greeted President Bush's motorcade in El
Salvador
(VOA
Photo - G. Flakus) |
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President Bush
also responded to a criticism made during the Democratic Party's weekly radio
address on Saturday, in which he was accused of visiting Latin America so as to
pander to U.S. Hispanic voters. Mr. Bush called that "petty politics." He also
restated his belief in building strong relations with U.S.
neighbors.
My
long-standing interest in Mexico and Central America is well known. I firmly
believe that the best policy for the United States is to pay attention to our
friends and to promote trade. Trade produces liberty and freedom.
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Security remained tight as President Bush traveled through Central
America
(VOA
photo - G. Flakus) |
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In his remarks,
Mr. Bush also hailed the progress that has been made by El Salvador since it
emerged from its civil war just a little over a decade ago. He said El Salvador
is today one of the freest, strongest and most stable democracies in the
hemisphere.
After
concluding his meeting with Central American leaders, President Bush flew back
to Washington.
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