On Tuesday, Ambassador Kirk and USTR staff met with Ford Motor Company CEO Alan MuLally. Also in the meeting were Deputy USTR Demetrios Marantis, Assistant USTR for Small Business, Market Access and Industrial Competitiveness Jim Sanford, Assistant USTR for Japan, Korea, and APEC Affairs Wendy Cutler, and Lisa Garcia, Assistant USTR for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement.
At their first meeting, Ambassador Kirk and Mr. MuLally discussed how USTR and U.S. manufacturers like Ford can work together to rebuild the economy and to support jobs at home by getting more quality U.S. cars into existing, as well as new and emerging markets.
Ambassador Kirk welcomed the news that Ford will bring nearly 1200 new jobs and significant investment to the Chicago region with its plans for the next generation Explorer SUV, and committed to continue USTR's work to open foreign markets to this and other American-made vehicles. They also discussed outstanding issues with regard to autos and the pending US-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
