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The Economy
With Bob Zoellick
U.S. Trade Representative
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002; 3:30 p.m. EDT
Confronting increasing signs of a dimming recovery, President Bush held a campaign-style forum with about 250 rigorously screened participants from 40 states and the District to try to convey concern for people who are hurting and impart a sense of urgency about the economy.
U.S. Trade Representative Bob Zoellick was online to discuss the economy and President Bush's forum.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Harrisburg, Pa.:
What are potential new trade markets for the United States? Is it expanding into countries such as China, or emerging markets in Africa, and, if so, where do you see other emerging trade markets?
Bob Zoellick: Because the U.S. is about 25 percent of the global economy we want to try to open markets everywhere. We would like to operate globally, regionally and with individual countries which are called bilateral agreements. We are pursuing free trade agreements with countries in Latin America, southern Africa, Asia and perhaps Australia as well.
We are pursuing a global trade agreement in Doha Qatar. That is the international negotiations that failed to launch in Seattle in 1999. In addition we last year completed the joining of China and Taiwan into the WTO which activated the lower tariffs of the agreement the US has with China.
We look to expand markets in Asia, Latin America but we also want to extend trade ties in Africa.
Memphis, Tenn.:
Due to its poor educational system and its reliance on single, low-skill industries, the rural South has suffered heavy losses during the NAFTA era. The current econonomic crisis has made the South's situation worse. What steps can the President take to link new jobs, new markets and national economic recovery?
Bob Zoellick: The southern states have been a major beneficiary as trade.
The south has changed a lot in the past few years including foreign companies building here -- BMW has a plant in South Carolina, Michelin - the French company - has a plant in South Carolina as well. Just in the past year a major Korean auto company announced they will be building a plant in Alabama. There has been a real boom in trade related jobs in manufacturing as well as agriculture. Many states in the south are very important producers of farm products for export. Many people don't recognize that Florida is one of the main exporters of beef, not just citrus. Whether it be rice, cotton or other products, the southern states are great exporters.
Also, if you look across the south you see a boom in service industries. About 80 percent of Americans are now working in service industries. Today we had a UPS driver who has driven for UPS for 17 years and he was very excited about the opening of the market for UPS in China because for every 40 extra packages they deliver they can hire one more driver. As I have traveled around the country I have found that the Southern States have not been lagging in economic growth.
If I can make one more point -- some southern states like Louisiana have major ports. As we expand trade with Latin America and other regions there are great opportunities associated with ports and port services.
Ann Arbor, Mich.:
If this is truly a forum meant to encompass
a wide range of views, rather than a PR stunt, why haven't any Democrats or others critical of the president's economic policies been invited?
Bob Zoellick: Actually there were some Democrats invited. In fact, the President recognized the chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae who happen to be not only democrats, but was also the budget director under President Clinton. In my forum of about 30 people I didn't know what party people were members of. I had a line worker in a Boeing plant in Wichita, small business people, professors, CEOs, students, the head of the Future Farmers of America and others so we had a mixture. There were a lot of viewpoints on what the Congress and administration should be doing differently.
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
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