Ron Kirk talks sense to the American people

Trade isn't part of the problem, its part of the solution, says U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk: Remarks by Ambassador Ron Kirk United States Trade Representative. (remarks at Georgetown University Law Center, today).

Exports accounted for 13 percent of GDP last year and almost half of overall U.S. trade growth in the three years leading up to the recession.  As exports have fallen 16 percent, unemployment has risen, so:

"An aggressive effort to keep trade flowing and open more markets to American goods and services absolutely must be a big part of our economic recovery here at home...."

"To get our economy back on track, we need to increase exports. That means we need access to growing economies abroad...."

"...a strong case can be made for trade as a creator not just of jobs, but of the better-paying jobs that Americans want and need today."

Here's how the administration plans to proceed:

• "First, we’re opening up the process already – doing thorough reviews and making sure Congress and the public have access to better information about our trade efforts."
• Review and address the remaining issues on Panama, Columbia, and Korea agreements.
• Address foreign trade barriers: "We identified barriers to U.S. market access in the National Trade Estimate report on March 31.... We are following up to determine which ones are costing America the most jobs and opportunities....  And we will use all the tools in USTR’s toolbox to go after those trade barriers....  There will often be expedient and productive ways to work things out, through direct dialogue or formal consultations in the WTO.... When it becomes necessary, we can employ litigation in the WTO as well....  Stepping up trade enforcement is about opening up markets, not closing them down."
• "President Obama supported Congress’s significant expansion and improvement of Trade Adjustment Assistance in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."
• The administration is commited to a successful conclusion to Doha.
• Developing nations have a special place in the administration's plans:"From preference policies to technical assistance to building trade capacity, we can help lift up people who need lifting up, get them the goods they need, and grow the American economy in the process."

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Remember Adlai Stevenson: "

Comments

[battiste]

Everything said about this article is correct.
The only cure to the economic downturn is trading as normal and not trying to turn inwards for any country.
Source: http://www.homeremovalservices.com

[alloageorge]

i disagree with home removal services.
modern europe was created by france and
germany controlling the price of steel.
we still have all sorts of defensive
trading strategies.when we opened up trade
in bananas the west indies farmers couldnt
compete with america.

[Mike Hall]

The value of the dollar versus other currencies also poses a problem.