World Trade Week, 2001

Proclamation 7441 of May 18, 2001

World Trade Week, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Trade has an extraordinary impact on our Nation's
economic strength and can be a powerful force for good
in the world. This year's World Trade Week, observed in
communities across the country, will showcase the value
of trade to all our citizens.

Exports have accounted for almost one-quarter of the
United States economic growth during the past decade.
We continue to be the world's largest exporter of goods
and services. From life-saving medical devices to
information technology that allows people to be more
productive, American ingenuity is bringing some of the
best and most competitive and innovative products to
the world marketplace.

Across America, our exports support 12 million jobs
that pay wages higher than the national average, and
high-tech jobs supported by exports pay even more. It
is no coincidence that the longest period of sustained
economic growth in U.S. history has followed efforts to
liberalize trade, such as the North American Free Trade
Agreement and the Uruguay Round Agreement that
established the World Trade Organization. Trade also
leads to more competitive businesses, more choices of
goods for consumers, and lower prices.

Along with economic progress, open trade also helps
build democracies and spreads freedom as it reinforces
the spirit of liberty by spurring economic and legal
reforms. When we promote open trade, we promote both
economic and political freedom. Societies that open to
commerce will one day open to liberty.

World Trade Week celebrates trade as an economic and
social engine for progress with a special focus on the
services sector--the largest sector in the private
economy, providing more than 85 million jobs. These
service sector jobs involve a wide range of industries,
including banking and insurance, travel, entertainment,
telecommunications, energy, and environ mental
services. We are proud that the United States is the
world's top producer and exporter of services,
exporting some $300 billion worth a year.

In addition to the significance of exporting services,
export of goods continues to be vitally important to
our economic performance. More than 20 percent of our
domestic goods are exported, and for durable goods the
figure jumps to 36 percent. These exports support
millions of high-quality U.S. jobs and play a key role
in U.S. economic growth. However, our ability to
sustain or expand this growth will require tapping the
trade potential of the emerging economies in Asia and
Latin America, as well as bolstering our trade
agreements with developed economies such as Japan and
the European Union. Strengthening our trade agreements
with these countries, not only opens their economies to
U.S. goods and services, but also leads to higher rates
of foreign investment. This investment creates growth,
jobs, and the means to buy the products we export from
the United States.

The United States will work for open trade at every
opportunity. The executive and legislative branches
need to work together to provide the means

to cooperate on trade objectives. The renewal of U.S.
trade promotion authority will bolster a partnership
between the executive and legislative branches and will
enhance the ability of the United States to negotiate
new trade agreements. We will work for more open trade
globally through talks in the WTO. We will work to
create a free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere by
2005. Our commitment to open trade will be coupled with
a commitment to protect our environment and improve
labor standards.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim May 20 through May 26, 2001,
as World Trade Week. I encourage Americans to observe
this week with events, trade shows, and educational
programs that celebrate the benefits of trade to our
economy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand one, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

(Presidential Sig.)B