World Trade Week, 2008

Proclamation 8257 of May 15, 2008

World Trade Week, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Free and fair trade helps secure a future of freedom
and promise. During World Trade Week, we recognize the
positive effects of opening markets around the world.
Open markets play an integral role in America's
economic progress, creating better-paying jobs,
expanding consumer choices, and providing increased
opportunities for American workers and employers. Free
and fair trade also increases economic growth among our
trading partners.

My Administration is committed to expanding economic
freedom worldwide. We will continue to seek an
ambitious outcome in the Doha Round that will reduce
and eliminate tariffs and other barriers on goods and
open new markets for services trade. The Doha Round
provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance
open markets, strengthen economic growth, and help
millions rise out of poverty.

We also encourage the Congress to approve our pending
trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South
Korea. Our free trade agreement with Colombia is
important, because it will support one of our closest
allies in the Western Hemisphere currently under
assault from a terrorist network. Congressional
approval of this agreement would make clear America's
unshakeable commitment to advancing the benefits of
free markets and the interests of free people.

Today, nearly 250,000 U.S. firms export U.S. products.
Ninety-seven percent of those exporters are small- or
medium-sized businesses. The number of U.S. small
business exporters has more than doubled since 1992.
Those businesses have surpassed a quarter of a trillion
dollars in annual export sales.

Free and fair trade helps reinforce our Nation's
commitments to democracy, transparency, and the rule of
law. This week and throughout the year, we recognize
the importance of trade in promoting prosperity and
freedom in the United States and around the world.

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 18 through May 24, 2008,
as World Trade Week. I encourage all Americans to
observe this week with events, trade shows, and
educational programs that celebrate the benefits of
trade to our Nation and the global economy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

5-19-08; 8:58 am]