Timothy Roemer: “I rise today, not as a free trader, but as a fair trader in support of this agreement for the United States, for Africa…”

“I rise today, not as a free trader, but as a fair trader in support of this agreement for the United States, for Africa, and for the Caribbean nations. I did so for three simple reasons. First of all, because, with the 48 Nations of sub-Saharan Africa, all united behind this, we now do more trade with those 48 Nations in sub-Saharan Africa than we do with all the former Soviet Union block nations combined. So it benefits the United States. Secondly, as a fair trader, I am concerned about trade deficits and trying to get trade surpluses. Before 1984, we had a trade deficit with the Caribbean nations. Today in the year 2000, the United States of America has a $2 billion trade surplus with the Caribbean nations, and this will further benefit that surplus with fair trade. Thirdly, I support this because there are 700 million to 800 million people in sub-Saharan Africa that can buy U.S.-made products. That means this agreement will support our goods made in our factories by our workers and support our jobs. So I think, Mr. Speaker, this is a good fair trade agreement, opening up trade opportunities, doing more to increase our trade surplus and providing American jobs. Finally, the principal architect, a hero of mine, the Reverend Leon Sullivan, the architect of the Sullivan Principles in South Africa supports this trade agreement.”