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American Morning

Summit of the Americas: President Bush Bound for Canada

Aired April 20, 2001 - 11:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is bound as we speak for Canada. He left the White House just a short time ago. Mr. Bush will join North and South American leaders gathered in Quebec City for the third Summit of the Americas to talk free trade.

Also gathering in Quebec City are protesters, who oppose big trade deals. CNN's Lucia Newman is in Quebec city right. Lucia joins us on the phone. Lucia, what challenges does President Bush face from this, his first summit? Actually, Lucia is with us now live -- Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Indeed, this is going to be President Bush's first opportunity to really prove to Washington's southern neighbors that the United States is serious about hemispheric freed trade and about development in this region.

The Latin American leaders, who began arriving here last night all want more access to markets, especially to the lucrative United States' market. But they are also very wary about the price they may have to pay for this. They want guarantees that they will have enough time and enough support to prepare their infrastructures and their technology in order to be able to compete with the more developed countries in the region.

And also, Leon, just as importantly, they want guarantees that President George Bush can deliver, that once a free trade agreement is finally agreed upon, that the U.S. Congress can't tear it apart bit by bit. They want President Bush to have fast-track authority, which means that he will present a treaty, which the Congress can then either take or reject, but cannot change, Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Lucia, what's going on right now with the demonstrators? We heard yesterday that many of them were assembling there to stage some kind of a show today.

NEWMAN: Right now, it's very peaceful here. Last night, however, we did see a demonstration, a rather large one in fact, people denouncing what they call the evils of globalization. They say that a free trade agreement here will favor the multinational corporations, but will not help ordinary people.

The demonstrations so far have been very, very peaceful. But Quebec City right now is boarded up. Most of the shops here in the old sector have been boarded up. They haven't opened. There is fear that there could be violence later on when the protesters come out again. And it is expected that they will. A force of some 6, 000 riot police in fact are on hand if the demonstrations get out of hand, Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much. Lucia Newman reporting live from Quebec City. We'll see much more of you later on.

President Bush scheduled to arrive at the summit of the Americas in about an hour-and-a-half from now. And we'll go live to Quebec City to bring you the president's arrival. We expect that, as we say, about 12:50 p.m. Eastern. That is 9:50 a.m. Pacific.

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