This afternoon, Ambassador Kirk spoke to members of the New Democrat Coalition in Washington, DC. The Ambassador's remarks highlighted USTR's role in meeting President Obama's goal of doubling exports over the next five years and focused on USTR's ongoing efforts to shape job-creating trade policy.
USTR is working with Congress to make trade work better for all Americans. Click here to view a press release from the Coalition, and read excerpts of Ambassador Kirk's remarks, as prepared for delivery, now:
"As you all heard in President Obama's State of the Union address, this Administration is taking trade seriously. The President laid down a challenge: support two million jobs by doubling our exports in five years. As we all know, that's a big goal. But it's not out of reach. And we are not going to leave a single job on the table. So I want to talk to you today about a few of the things this Administration is doing to jump-start American exports.
"Through the newly-created National Export Initiative, this Administration will seize the job creating potential of trade. Specifically, this Administration will increase exports by working to remove trade barriers abroad, helping firms - especially small businesses - overcome the hurdles to entering new export markets, assisting with financing, and, in general, pursuing a whole-of-government approach to export advocacy abroad
"To that end, USTR will be teaming up with the Commerce Department, the Small Business Administration, and other federal agencies to help more Americans succeed through trade.
"...Already, USTR is working hard to make the world's markets more open to American goods and services - both by enforcing our existing trade rights and moving forward with new trade deals.
"...For example, this year we will begin negotiations with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. USTR aims to conclude a high-standard 21st century trade agreement that can deliver new opportunities to American businesses and create new jobs for American workers.
"...95 percent of the world's consumers live outside America's borders, and Americans should be able to compete for their business no matter where they live. So USTR is going to continue to think strategically about how we can help Americans to do businesses in more places.
"At the same time, we're working to ensure that whatever opportunities USTR creates are accessible to American businesses and workers of every size and type. On that count, USTR launched a Small- and Medium-Sized Business Initiative. And as part of that initiative, we named a new Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business.
"For the last 30 years, small businesses have created nearly two-thirds of all new jobs. And though trade, we can help these big job creators become huge job creators. Because businesses that export grow faster, add jobs faster, and pay higher wages - and this Administration is not going to leave a single job on the table."
