This is just as true when we are representing our country, our industry or our interest group. Pollution does not know political boundaries. While we have made progress in cleaning and protecting our environment, the job is not done. We can not rest. We still face tremendous environmental and public health challenges.
Vehicles still contribute too much to our air pollution and global warming problems.
A critical element of this Agreement is that present levels of environmental protection or vehicle safety will not be lowered in order to achieve regulatory harmonization. Let me state explicitly that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will maintain our high standards to provide the greatest possible environmental protection for all. We will do this as we have in the past - working with industry, environmental groups and governments toward this common goal. This Agreement provides a global process for all countries to strengthen their efforts to achieve these shared goals. We can take pride in the progress we have made in providing a cleaner, healthier environment for our citizens.