Pittsburgh, PA - In remarks today to steelworkers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced a number of new trade enforcement measures aimed at saving jobs and creating new jobs in the United States by leveling the global playing field for American workers and businesses. Kirk spoke at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works - Edgar Thomson Plant about the Obama Administration's commitment to better enforcement of America's trade rights around the world.
"I came here to Mon Valley because America's workers need to know that this administration has their backs in the global trading system," said Kirk. "These new enforcement measures will help Americans to receive the benefits promised by our existing trade agreements - the better-paying jobs and economic growth that come home to America when our partners keep their commitments to trade fairly with the U.S."
Key measures announced today included:
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Measures to spot and address trade barriers particularly affecting America's agricultural producers and manufacturers, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures restricting U.S. agricultural exports and technical barriers impeding our producers' ability to trade worldwide
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Increased coordination with the Departments of State, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture, and other federal agencies to spot and respond to trade barriers
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A commitment to closer observation of foreign labor practices, and redress of substandard practices that tilt the playing field away from U.S. workers in violation of labor obligations in our trade agreements
The full text of Kirk's speech, as well as details of the new enforcement measures and photos of today's visit, are available at www.ustr.gov.
