This morning, President Obama stopped by a meeting of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN) to thank the committee members for their valuable input, and to speak about trade's place in the Administration's effort to ensure that a more competitive America can win the future. Ambassador Kirk co-chaired the meeting with Acting ACTPN Chairman Bill Frenzel of the Brookings Institute. National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors Austan Goolsbee also joined the meeting to discuss the link between the economy and trade. This was the first meeting of these members of ACTPN under the Obama Administration.
Ambassador Kirk, Mr. Sperling and Mr. Goolsbee held a robust dialogue with the ACTPN members, updating the advisors on various trade issues. Ambassador Kirk spoke about the U.S.-Korea trade agreement, as well as the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Doha Development Agenda. He also briefed the committee on this Administration’s commitment to the U.S.-Colombia and U.S.-Panama trade agreements, and enforcing our existing agreements with countries such as China.
The ACTPN is appointed by the President of the United States and is the principal trade advisory committee which provides overall policy advice on trade matters to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Established by Congress under the Trade Act of 1974, the committee provides information and advice with respect to U.S. negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements, on the operation of any trade agreement once entered into, and on other matters arising in connection with U.S. trade policy. The ACTPN considers trade policy issues in the context of the overall national interest. The Committee consists of not more than 45 members representing key sectors and groups of the economy broadly affected by trade, including representatives of non-federal governments, labor, industry, agriculture, small business, service industries, retailers, consumer and public interests. Members of the Committee are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President for a period not to exceed the duration of the Charter.
