American businesses: removing barriers and building bridges in Mexico - Warren Christopher, Secretary of State - Transcript

US Department of State Dispatch, May 13, 1996

Remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce, Mexico City, Mexico, May 7, 1996 (introductory remarks deleted)

I must say I approach these remark with some trepidation. I heard your executive director say that there are evaluation forms. Well, I don't want to see them. I also heard Ambassador speak about four-minute unscripted speeches, and that gives me quite a target, too. I'm not sure I can stay within four minutes, but I do want to commend this Chamber. I know you have long played a constructive role. I've been here before, met your executive director before. You are not only the largest Chamber outside the United States, but I think you are the most active and, certainly, one of the most valued. I think about how much you had to do to bring NAPTA from just a vision to a reality.

Let me say just another word about someone who should have been here at the head table today. Ron Brown was well-known to many of you and highly regarded and respected, I know, by all who knew him. He worked hard to promote trade and investment between the United States and Mexico, and he earned enormous good will here and throughout all of Latin America.

I want to make sure you get to know Stuart Eisenstat, the Under Secretary of Commerce, who is here today standing in for Ron. Of course, no one could really do that, but Stuart will carry Ron's work forward. He was our ambassador to the European Community, so he brings a wealth of not only Washington experience but of world trade experience to his task.

Ron's mission to Bosnia and Croatia epitomized our Administration's approach to international diplomacy, as well as our nation's tradition of practical, pragmatic idealism. Ron and his government colleagues and the business leaders who were accompanying them--the 12 leaders who died on that plane--were opening up opportunities for American business while promoting our strategic goals in an area of critical interest to the United States. That happens many, many times. Our strategic interest is convergent with our business interest, and that is why I so highly value my relationships with the business community and the opportunity the President has given me to have a State Department that is business-friendly--to change the culture of the Department to make sure it is on the side of American business around the world.

This morning, I want to call your at tention to an opportunity to invest in peace and reconciliation in Mexico's immediate neighbor to the south. I am sure you have read the morning paper, or heard yesterday about the very important step that was taken yesterday in bringing an end to Guatemala's internal conflict, the last internal conflict in Latin America. Yesterday, the parties signed an accord here, setting out principles which will lift their country's economy and the living standards of all its people. I encourage U.S. and Mexican businesses to take a good look and to invest in the new opportunity that a democratic Guatemala at peace offers.

This is the fourth meeting of the Binational Commission that I have attended. In that time, I have seen the emergence of a new understanding--an understanding that the common challenges we have can best be met through cooperation with mutual respect.

This particular binational summit is turning out to be extraordinarily productive. We have been welcoming progress in our common fight against drug trafficking and agreed to crack down on moneylaundering--in both countries--and to strengthen our control of precursor chemicals. Today, we will sign an agreement assuring full consular protection for our nationals in both countries, and we will reaffirm our commitment to preventing abuses at our borders, whether by alien smugglers or law enforcement officials.

We will also sign what is called Border XXI, a new framework that will strengthen our environmental cooperation and our ability to solve pollution problems locally. We have agreed to cooperate in research and development of renewable energy and energy-efficient technology. That reflects two new working groups inaugurated this year in the Binational Commission.

Indeed, our cooperation through the Binational Commission reflects how far our partnership has come. I think it is fair to say that it is now a mature partnership. I could not have said that in earlier years. Our partnership was sternly tested by last year's crisis, and, frankly, I think it was strengthened by the response to the crisis. President Clinton immediately recognized the vital interest of the United States in stability and prosperity in Mexico and the threat posed by the crisis here--not only here but to the emerging markets throughout the hemisphere. He acted decisively. It was not an easy thing to do, but it was the right thing to do. I feel confident that history will judge it that way.

The tough measures taken by President Zedillo have earned the confidence of the world and have put Mexico's economy back on the road to long-term growth. Interest rates and inflation are down; reserves are up. Mexico is paying off its loans on time, decisively reestablishing its international credit-worthiness, and, I think, giving the lie to so many in the United States who said the money would never come back.