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Chapter VI. Ignite a New Era of Global Economic Growth through Free Markets and Free Trade

 Section C.  The Way Ahead - 1.  Opening markets and integrating developing countries.  

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        Economic freedom is a moral imperative.  The liberty to create and build or to buy, sell,

        and own property is fundamental to human nature and foundational to a free society.  

        Economic freedom also reinforces political freedom.  It creates diversified centers of

        power and authority that limit the reach of government.  It expands the free flow of ideas;

        with increased trade and foreign investment comes exposure to new ways of thinking and

        living which give citizens more control over their own lives.

         

        To continue extending liberty and prosperity, and to meet the challenges that remain, our

        strategy going forward involves:  

         

        1.  Opening markets and integrating developing countries.  

         

        While most of the world affirms in principle the appeal of economic liberty, in practice

        too many nations hold fast to the false comforts of subsidies and trade barriers.  Such

        distortions of the market stifle growth in developed countries, and slow the escape from

        poverty in developing countries.  Against these short-sighted impulses, the United States

        promotes the enduring vision of a global economy that welcomes all participants and

        encourages the voluntary exchange of goods and services based on mutual benefit, not

        favoritism.  

         

 

                                                                                           National Security Strategy  27

 

             We will continue to advance this agenda through the WTO and through bilateral and

             regional FTAs.

             

             ·  The United States will seek completion of the Doha Development Agenda

                   negotiations.  A successful Doha agreement will expand opportunities for Americans

                   and for others around the world.  Trade and open markets will empower citizens in

                   developing countries to improve their lives, while reducing the opportunities for

                   corruption that afflict state-controlled economies.

             

             ·  We will continue to work with countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and

                   Vietnam on the market reforms needed to join the WTO.  Participation in the WTO

                   brings opportunities as well as obligations ­ to strengthen the rule of law and honor

                   the intellectual property rights that sustain the modern knowledge economy, and to

                   remove tariffs, subsidies, and other trade barriers that distort global markets and harm

                   the world's poor.  

             

             ·  We will advance MEFTA by completing and bringing into force FTAs for Bahrain,

                   Oman, and the United Arab Emirates and through other initiatives to expand open

                   trade with and among countries in the region.

                   

             ·  In Africa, we are pursuing an FTA with the countries of the Southern African

                   Customs Union:  Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland.  

               

             ·  In Asia, we are pursuing FTAs with Thailand, the ROK, and Malaysia.  We will also

                   continue to work closely with China to ensure it honors its WTO commitments and

                   protects intellectual property.

             

             ·  In our own hemisphere, we will advance the vision of a free trade area of the

                   Americas by building on North American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA-DR, and

                   the FTA with Chile.  We will complete and bring into force FTAs with Colombia,

                   Peru, Ecuador, and Panama.  

                   

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