As he continued his Friday visit to Detroit, Michigan, Ambassador Ron Kirk spent time speaking with students from Henry Ford High School, Lincoln Park High School, Northwood University, and Schoolcraft College before giving remarks to a distinguished audience of the Detroit Economic Club.
Ambassador Kirk chats with Henry Ford High School students Dontee Battles (left) and Gianni Brown before speaking to the Detroit Economic Club.
In his speech, Ambassador Kirk talked about the Administration effort to grow 2 million well-paying jobs here at home by increasing American exports to the world. He also frankly addressed concerns that many Michigan residents have about international challenges for American auto exports.
Detroit Economic Club Chief Operating Officer Steve Grigorian (left) and Club board member Tarik S. Daoud of Long Family Auto Center in Warren, Michigan, look on as Ambassador Kirk begins his remarks.
You can read an excerpt of Ambassador Kirk's speech now; read the full text, as prepared for delivery, here.
"...when more Americans can do more business in more places, it creates more jobs in American cities like Detroit - and Lansing, and Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor.
But it is not enough to just open new markets. USTR is also charged with keeping markets open - making sure that the level playing fields and the rights we've negotiated in our global trade agreements aren't just written on paper, but are real engines of economic growth and job creation at home.
So we are enforcing the trade rights we've negotiated for American workers. We are challenging unfair practices wherever they exist. We are working hard to keep global trade flowing smoothly despite the economic recession.
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USTR's efforts to - expand American trade opportunities through new market openings and enforcement of our rights around the world are paying off, not only for American exporters but also for the Americans who are ready and waiting to fill export-sector jobs.
Beyond anything that this Administration does, those men and women are going to be the real success stories as we all walk out of this recession together. When those fathers and mothers come home to their families and say, "I got a job. They were hiring," we can all breathe a sigh of relief, and celebrate together.
Trade policies that can bring jobs to American families and economic growth to our country are trade policies we can all support. At USTR, we are working for those kinds of trade policies every day."
