Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Bush: Free trade boosts U.S. economy

|
|
 
  
Published: Feb. 28, 2008 at 1:56 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Free trade policies are essential to boosting the U.S. economy and a critical element of recent economic growth, President George Bush said Thursday.

"I am a big believer in free trade," Bush said during a Washington news conference. "Free trade is essential to the creation of high-paying, quality jobs."

A look at recent economic growth shows "a major portion came as result of exports," he said.

Bush used the news conference to push Congress to pass a free trade agreement with Columbia, saying more than commodities was at stake.

"If Congress rejects" the free trade legislation, "it will sorely affect the national security interests in the United States," Bush said. "I strongly urge that Congress seriously consider the consequences of rejecting this agreement."

Asked whether the United States should revise or reject the North American Free Trade Agreement -- now a 2008 presidential campaign issue -- Bush said the United States ships $380 billion worth of goods to NAFTA partners annually.

"The idea of withdrawing from a trade treaty for political points is not good policy," he said.

Topics: George Bush
Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Syrian protests continue
View Caption
fark
Cell phone tower disguised as palm tree nearly kills a man after 5ft palm frond impales windshield...
Survey finds that men are quick to fall in love, roll over and fall asleep
Nerdiest sport ever: Combat juggling
Photoshop this topless athlete
Man rejects girlfriend's noodles, says toodles by leaving her in poodle of blood. Oodles of boodle...
Mormons tried to posthumously baptize Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel but were...