Opening Statement of the Hon. Philip M. Crane, M.C.,
Illinois, and
Chairman, Subcommittee on Trade
Hearing on Summit of the Americas and Prospects for Free Trade in the Hemisphere
May 8, 2001
Good Afternoon. This is a hearing of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee to consider the status of negotiations to establish a Free Trade Area of the Americas and also to receive testimony on the expansion of the Andean Trade Preference Act, which expires on December 4th.
Ambassador Zoellick is here to report on the outcome of the Quebec Summit meeting, where President Bush communicated his deep commitment to the creation of a free trade area in this hemisphere encompassing 800 million people, $11 trillion in economic production, and $3.4 trillion in regional trade. Ambassador Zoellick reached a strong agreement on detailed deadlines that give the talks new structure and momentum. The Heads of State indicated their decision to make the draft negotiating text public, which is an unprecedented step forward in fostering open discussion regarding the impact of expanding trade in the region.
I welcome the President's pledge to achieve trade promotion authority and conclude the United States-Chile free trade agreement by the end of the year.
I am convinced that free trade's success in the Americas will help spur the WTO to launch a new round multilateral negotiations. In recent years, the United States has lapsed in its responsibility to lead the world and the hemisphere on these issues, and I am anxious to build on the strong successes coming out of the FTAA Summit in Quebec.
With respect to extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act, I want to welcome the Colombian Minister of Foreign Trade Marta Lucia Ramirez and Bolivian Vice Minister of Trade Ana Marie Solares, who will speak later this afternoon. I would also like to recognize the other two Andean ministers who are with us today.
Today, the United States serves as both the leading source of the Andean region's imports and the largest market for its exports-a relationship that yields more than $18 billion of commerce. The four Andean nations are taking courageous steps to eliminate drug production among their farmers, and it is my intention to craft an ATPA bill which will offer real economic alternatives to Andean citizens as they move out of the drug trade. Through expanded trade we intend to undermine high unemployment and poverty as factors and motivations for otherwise good, productive citizens becoming involved in illicit crop cultivation that is eventually sold on our streets.
I'll now yield to the Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Levin, for any remarks he would like to make.
And now I welcome my colleagues Mr. Moran, Ms. Tauscher, and Ms. Christensen to hear their testimony.