06/04/2012
Kazan, Russia - United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk today shared U.S. assessments and goals for Asia-Pacific trade as meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's Ministers Responsible for Trade continued in Kazan, Russia. Following are key excerpts of Ambassador Kirk's prepared comments on APEC priorities:
Regional Economic Integration
"The success of APEC 2011 where APEC Leaders committed to a set of meaningful and significant outcomes to further liberalize trade and investment reinforced the fact that APEC continues to be the premier regional economic forum for the Asia-Pacific."
Next Generation Trade and Investment Issues
"Local content requirements are proliferating around the world, which is having the impact of distorting trade. APEC can help combat this trend by discussing ways to promote job creation and economic growth without adopting these trade-distortive measures."
Liberalizing Trade in Environmental Goods
"When President Obama and our Leaders committed to reduce tariffs on environmental goods to 5 percent or less by 2015 in Honolulu last year, they took an important step forward in advancing APEC's green growth agenda. And we all pledged to develop an APEC list of environmental goods in order to fulfill their commitment.
"Clear convergence is emerging around a set of environmental goods. We must build on these convergences to create an ambitious and credible list of environmental goods to deliver to our Leaders when they meet again in September."
