05/15/2012
Washington, D.C. – As part of World Trade Month, at an event to highlight the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement taking effect today, Ambassador Ron Kirk announced the beginning of USTR’s 50th anniversary celebration. He said:
“World Trade Month is particularly special for me and my team, because this year we mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of USTR.
“Frankly, being at USTR is the privilege of a lifetime, and it’s what we all strive for in public service – to work with the smartest, most passionate, most dedicated public servants in the U.S. government. Every day, an outstanding group of men and women come to work at the Winder Building and the F Street Annex with the mission to uphold the tradition of excellence that has been passed down for five decades since President Kennedy and Congress first came together to create USTR in 1962.
“To be sure, I’m a bit biased on this point, but I think it’s a testament to the unique value of USTR that such a stellar reputation has been maintained across administrations for at least two generations now. That overriding sense of purpose gives our small agency the energy and ability to outperform – or as I like to say, ‘we punch above our weight.’
“Simply put, the work we do at USTR – to open markets, level the playing field, and keep America competitive – is enormously relevant for hard-working families across the United States. And as we renew economic growth and do everything we can to keep the recovery going, trade and exports will remain a vital part of President Obama’s blueprint to build an economy that lasts with better jobs for more Americans. For all of these reasons, I’m proud to announce that today we are launching a new webpage, http://ustr.gov/50, where you can go to get updates about all of the 50th anniversary activities we will be rolling out periodically over the next few months.”
The public may join the celebration on Twitter at @USTradeRep using the hashtag #ustr50.
