Remarks at the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Environmental Cooperation Agreement Signing Ceremony

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, on behalf of the United States, I am delighted to join you here today at this important ceremony marking the two instruments our many nations have just signed. I would like to thank the Organization of American States for its assistance and involvement in these proceedings. Members of the delegations of our governments, thank you for your efforts these past months, and it is good to have you here for this important occasion.

With this achievement, we pass a critical milestone in the quest to improve the lives and economic well-being of our citizens. We are one step closer to removing the obstacles to trade that impede their industriousness and productivity; and we as a region have moved further still in the direction of freedom and economic liberty. We are securing our collective position in the global marketplace.

Agreements such as this help build understanding of the benefits of free trade in the region. It is important that trade agreements have a holistic view of the economic relationships between our nations. This means that in addition to tariffs and customs, we also consider matters such as environmental cooperation and other elements of sustainable, long-term development. Taking this approach ensures that we keep our focus on what matters most: the comprehensive well-being and freedom of our people.

Equally important, by focusing on good governance, including effective laws and enforcement, public participation and transparency, this agreement strengthens the commitment of each of our countries to democracy and rule of law. Free trade is inseparable from broader human freedom. As Milton Friedman wrote, "Freedom in economic arrangements is itself a component of freedom broadly understood, so economic freedom is an end in itself [and] an indispensable means toward the achievement of political freedom."

Today marks the end of one process and the beginning of another. I look forward to working with all of you to quickly conclude a work program to implement this agreement. We should focus on enhancing the capacity for effective and smart environmental regulations and enforcement, for public participation and transparency, for sound environmental management systems, for leveraging the power of civil society and the private sector through public-private partnerships, and for market-based approaches to achieve environmental results with greater efficiency. Finally, as we build a work program, we must include a strategic focus on measurable and achievable results.

Thank you all once again for joining today in this historic occasion. I am very pleased you could be with us. I look forward to working with all of you and our Trade Representative on steps to implement this agreement. I will now turn the chair over to John Turner, our Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. John has been deeply engaged throughout the process of reaching this agreement, and has done much to promote these issues.