Kirk Supports Export Growth

On April 23, 2009, the newest U.S. Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, delivered a speech concerning trade policy at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

With millions of Americans unemployed during this economic crisis, many think that reduction of trade would lead to more jobs and improve the U.S. economy. However, Kirk indicated that prior to the recession, expansion in exports accounted for almost half of America’s overall GDP growth. Kirk stated, “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.” Kirk pledged to support export efforts by small and medium-size American companies.

Some of the suggestions Kirk provided for creating a trade policy that improves the U.S. economy include:

· Finding opportunities to open new markets for American goods and services.
· Promoting economic development – by supporting trade with poorer developing countries.
· Supporting the global rules-based trading system.
· Identifying barriers to U.S. market access, determining which barriers to trade cost America the most jobs and opportunities, and going after those trade barriers.
· Strengthening support for American workers when trade takes a negative toll.
· Enforcing trade agreements and helping to protect American workers who lose jobs because of trade.
· Supporting expansion and improving Trade Adjustment Assistance in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
· Completing the three trade agreements with Panama, Columbia and South Korea
· Ensuring Congress and the public have access to better information about America’s trade efforts.

Click HERE to read the full text of Kirk’s speech.