 Ladies and gentlemen the president of the United States. Oh, please sit down. I don't know about you But all morning I've been sitting in there watching the sky. I Heard early predictions of rain have to get this over with but I Thank you all very much, and it's always a pleasure to welcome the businessmen and women of America to the White House I'm delighted to take part in celebrating World Trade Week Which reaffirms the importance of our well-being of trade and recognizes the need for increased export efforts America's future growth and prosperity depends on how well we develop and compete in foreign markets One in eight manufacturing jobs is related to exports and 25 percent of our farmers cash Receipts come from exports in fact exports account for 25 percent Of the total value of all goods produced in this country Exports mean jobs for our people Profits for our businesses and growth for our economy And that's why it's going to be a pleasure to present the well-deserved E&E star awards for excellence in exporting But let me begin by pointing out the backdrop for export opportunities in the economic climate here at home. I Know you're all familiar with the dramatic turnaround that has been accomplished We're in the midst of a wonderful economic expansion, and I believe we have a lot to be proud of Our growth is helping to pull the rest of the free world out of recession and this will increase Demand for American exports, but occasionally the interests of diplomacy and the interests of American industry seem to conflict Well our administration sees it as our job to reconcile the two and make it easier for American business to open up new markets on a fair footing and We're working hard in that direction 1982 we passed the Export Trading Company Act Aimed at opening foreign trade opportunities for medium and small-sized companies The bill removed impediments to trade permitting companies to sell American products overseas More efficiently and more effectively We're also implementing an International investment policy to reduce the number of government measures that distort or impede the flow of international investment Our trade missions have been to Europe Asia Africa and Latin America seeping seeking to develop new export opportunities Now these are just several of the efforts We're going to do everything we can to get government out of the way to make sure that you have the opportunity to compete Effectively in world markets and there's something else Last November I visited Japan and Korea Last month it was China and next week it's Europe and the London Economic Summit And I'm beginning to feel a little like an export product myself But one of the key purposes of these trips is to see that all the export trading doors are opened as wide as possible As I told a number of export trade industry representatives last month in Tacoma When I go abroad I go as something of a salesman do everything I can to promote US exports Except possibly wear a buy American bumper sticker on my bag We're committed to keeping markets open to free trade We oppose protectionism because like so many other forms of government intervention. It doesn't work Protectionism brings higher prices. It provokes retaliation and it insulates inefficiencies in production and will continue to oppose it Government can set the framework for expanded trade, but it can't make trade flourish That's up to you the private sector to make that happen And that's why it's my privilege to present the E and E star awards our award winners are making it happen in a Fiercely competitive environment. You have good reason to be proud and we're proud of you And so now for the awards and I shall turn this back to Secretary Brown This president I would suggest that maybe we're all better off now that you are selling for all of us rather than just for one company or two as you have in your past If you will when I call your name come to the podium here to the left and we will Have each of you come individually this president the first recipient is mr. James B. Cantrell president of Belco Industries Incorporated of Carrizozo, New Mexico Mr. John bond huss president of bond huss corporation Monticello, Minnesota Mr. Emery G all caught president of Canberra Industries meredin, Connecticut Mr. Sergio de armist president of Florida exporters and importers Association of Miami, Florida Mr. Leonard Koonsman director of the agriculture development and marketing division of the Oregon Department of Agriculture of Salem, Oregon Mr. Reef Pfeiffer Reese Pfeiffer president Pfeiffer wire products, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Mr. Richard D messenger Chairman of the board of power Kerber's incorporated Salisbury, North Carolina Mr. David Zimineck president REC specialties Camarillo, California Dr. Leonard Skulnick president spits space systems Chads Ford, Pennsylvania Mr. John Walker, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in Nashville Tennessee I assume Dr. Donald Turville president Zeus scientific incorporated raritan, New Jersey this president those are the 11 E awards and we have three star e-star award recipients They are mr. Harold W. Godderson president Gomaco corporation Ida Grove, Iowa Mr. William Donahue Commissioner, New York State Department of Commerce and last but not least mr. President mr. Steve Perry general manager Toledo scale company division of reliance Electric, Worthington, Ohio Thank you all again for being here Congratulations to all of you and thank you very much now. I'll go back to work Thank you all for coming we'd like to have the opportunity to congratulate each one of you ourselves