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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Bush, Calderon defend NAFTA
President Bush on Tuesday said that the North American Free Trade Agreement was a “visionary move by previous leaders” and has tripled trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The president made the remarks at a press conference in New Orleans with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.
Bush also urged Congress to pass a free trade agreement with Colombia. He accused opponents of “protectionism.”
“I’m concerned about protectionism in America. It’s not in our interest to become a protectionist nation,” he said.
In addition, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said that the economies of Canada, Mexico and the United States are bigger and stronger than they were 14 years ago, before NAFTA.
“We are doing everything we can in order to create job opportunities in Mexico for people so that Mexicans will not need to seek job opportunities outside their country. And the only way to do it is by creating jobs in Mexico. And the only way is precisely multiplying our possibilities of trade,” Calderon said.
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have talked about the need to re-negotiate NAFTA, amid fears that it has hurt U.S. workers.