Just as the World War II generation forged a bipartisan consensus that sustained successful trade expansion throughout the Cold War, we must build a new consensus to promote open markets for trade in the decades to come. The Bush administration is strongly committed to a trade policy that will remove trade barriers in foreign markets, while further liberalizing our market at home. Exports accounted for over one-quarter of U.S. economic growth over the last decade and support an estimated 12 million American jobs. Export-related jobs pay 13 to 18 percent more than other jobs. Second, as President Bush has stated, free trade is about freedom.
Economic freedom creates habits of liberty and habits of liberty create expectations of democracy.
Third, expanded trade affects our nation's security. The crises of the first 45 years of the last century were inextricably linked with hostile protectionism and national socialism. Today, Colombia is waging a battle to defend the rule of law against groups that finance their terror through drug trafficking. One of the tools Colombia needs is a renewed and robust Andean Trade Preferences Act. The benefits of open trade can only be achieved if we build public support for trade at home.