President Reagan's Remarks at Signing Ceremony for Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement on July 25, 1988

Duration: 7:57 804 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

President Reagan delivered remarks at a historic ceremony in the Roosevelt Room, emphasizing the significance of implementing legislation for the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement as one of the most important achievements of his presidency. He highlighted that this agreement was crafted through unprecedented cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, demonstrating what can be accomplished when political parties work together for the common good. The President noted that the rapid progress of the deal reflects its inherent benefits for both nations and the entire North American continent, reinforcing the idea that Americans are united by a shared vision of optimism and forward momentum rather than division. The core argument presented was that lowering trade barriers throughout history has consistently led to economic prosperity, likening the resulting growth to mountain meadows blooming after spring rain. Reagan explained that this agreement would serve as a cornerstone for a new era of cooperation, generating vast numbers of jobs on both sides of the border and saving consumers up to three billion dollars annually. He further illustrated the deep integration between the two countries by pointing out that there is more trade volume between the United States and Canada than any other pair of nations globally, with cross-border interactions occurring approximately seventy-five million times each year. This dynamic relationship exemplifies how borders should function as meeting places rather than dividing lines, setting a model for free world economies to follow. Reagan acknowledged the crucial roles played by key figures such as Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter and Treasury Secretary James Baker in guiding negotiations with Canada and collaborating with Congress. He also expressed gratitude toward business leaders who formed broad coalitions representing over five hundred companies across every sector of the economy, which helped push the agreement forward effectively. By utilizing fast-track legislative procedures, both branches of government established a new standard for collaboration aimed at benefiting the nation as a whole. The President concluded by expressing confidence that with only one final step remaining in Congress, the legislation would soon be signed into law before he left office, marking another milestone in shaping the future of North America and the world.

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[Music] good m thank you thank you very much thank you the fan club yes thank you all very much please be seated it's particularly appropriate that we're meeting for this ceremony in the Rosevelt room two presidents who believed in Opportunity growth and confidence in the future I'm sending to the Congress what will be one of the most historic pieces of Legislation during my presidency implementing legislation for the US Canada Free Trade Agreement I ask the Congress to put this on a fast track which it did and then some Rick MIRS couldn't have driven it any faster which shows what we can do when Democrats and Republicans work together this agreement is moving quickly because it's good for the United States it's good for Canada and it's good for our continent it's moving quickly because we recognize that we are truly the people of the new world with a common Bond distinct on the globe North Americans are bound in our vision in our optimism and in our commitment to moving forward together we settled this continent to change the world and this agreement proves we mean to keep on changing it for the better as prime minister Maron said not long ago in going forward or not with this agreement quote the choice couldn't be more clear-cut the voices of the past against a vision of the future well eight years ago when I put myself before the American people as a candidate for this office I said that I wanted to lead the United States into a new relationship of cooperation and contact among the peoples of this continent this Free Trade Agreement is the Cornerstone for that North American Accord that new era of growth opportunity and friendship on our continent the reason for the Free Trade Agreement is simple throughout North American history whenever and wherever trade barriers have been lowered we've seen our economies Bloom like Mountain Meadows after an spring rain and this agreement is a sun rising on a new morning of economic Vitality for the United States and Canada it'll produce vast numbers of new jobs and new opportunities on both sides of the Border it'll save us consumers up to $3 billion a year it'll help keep the North American economy growing for a generation to come and yet in a broader sense the Free Trade Agreement is a case of governments rushing to catch up with their peoples as one news report noticed recently the US Canadian relationship has grown so vast that government officials acknowledge they cannot keep track of its complex Dimensions let alone control them yes our border is what all borders should be a meeting place not a dividing line and one sign of that is that North Americans cross it about 75 million times a year there's one more or there's more trade I should say between the United States and Canada than any other two countries in the world why there's more us trade with Ontario alone than between most Nations what the US Canada agreement accomplishes on a bil Al basis is a tremendous example of what we can ultimately and ultimately must achieve multilaterally Canadians and Americans take pride in having the longest unguarded border which stands as a model for the Free World when this agreement enters into Force we will have yet another model for the future of this country and the world now let me recognize a few people who help make today possible first trade representative Clayton Yer and treasury secretary Jim Baker who helped guide our talks with Canada and then worked with the Congress they worked with America's business Community which organized a broadly based Coalition of more than 500 companies big and small representing every sector of our economy two coalitions helped push negotiations forward and some of its representatives are with us today with this agreement and its implementing legislation we set a new standard of the two branches of government working together for the good of the nation and let me say thank you to those in Congress who've been part of this process who have helped shape the agreement and legislation and who've moved along quickly and smoothly together we've shown how this fast-track legislative procedures for trade agreements were intended to work there's one lap on the track left to go so let's put on the goggles step on the gas and have this baby be crossing the White House for my final signature in no time now I believe there are transmitt letters for me to sign so I thank you and God bless you all and I shall sign those and hope that before too long I'll be sitting there signing the [Music] legislation [Music] there [Music] we oh