[CTC] Local Trade Job Loss Numbers by State, Congressional District or Workplace

[Citizens Trade Campaign]

Remarks by Ambassador Ron Kirk

July 23, 2010 to Toronto Board of Trade

http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/speeches/transcripts/2010/july/rem
arks-ambassador-kirk-toronto-board-trade

*As Prepared for Delivery*

 

(Excerpt on NAFTA 'renegotiation')

 

"For example, back in October, I met with my Canadian and Mexican
counterparts at the annual NAFTA Commission meeting. We agreed to work
together to collect and share information about the experiences of small-
and medium-sized businesses under the NAFTA. And we are going to use that
information to identify actions that we can take to help those businesses.

 

"This is important work because Small and Medium Sized enterprises are the
backbone of the economy and engines of job creation on Main Streets in both
Canada and the United States.

 

"At USTR we have launched an SME initiative to craft trade policy in ways
that will help more small businesses access customers abroad and succeed in
the global economy, since small businesses that export grow faster, add jobs
faster, and pay higher wages.

 

"Working together we can find ways to help our U.S. and Canadian SMEs take
full advantage of the export opportunities that NAFTA provides and utilize
regional supply chains to create competitive advantage.

 

"At the same time, we want to ensure that we respect labor rights and
protection of the environment. Since we last met in October, our senior
trade officials have met several times to discuss increased cooperation on
trade and environment issues. Officials from our trade and labor ministries
have discussed proposals on ways to improve the functioning of the labor
side agreement. These steps will help pave the way towards collaborative
work on these cross-cutting and crucial issues.

 

(Excerpt on 'Buy American' Requirements)

 

"Last year when the Canadian government approached the United States
expressing its concern over the Buy American requirements in the Recovery
Act, I listened.

 

"After hearing your concerns about the new Buy American requirements, I
worked with your ministers to find a solution. Together we were able to turn
a short-term bilateral controversy into a long-term opportunity for both of
our countries.

 

"For years, the United States and other countries have sought access to the
Canadian provincial procurement markets through the World Trade
Organization's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

 

"Fortunately, we were able to negotiate a 'win-win' deal creating new
permanent access on both sides of the border to our respective procurement
markets.

 

(Excerpt on Doha)

 

"And just last month your Prime Minister Harper hosted the G20 Leaders
Summit in Toronto, where our respective leaders pledged to make progress on
a range of issues including the Doha round of multilateral trade talks.

 

"As two of the world's largest economies and leaders in international trade,
Canada and the United States both must be committed to advancing
multilateral trade liberalization at the same time as we strengthen our
bilateral ties.

 

(More on Doha)

 

"We need to seek areas where we can work together to spur economic growth
and opportunity between -and within - our countries.

 

"One such area is in the Doha Round. Furthering trade liberalization through
new trade flows and meaningful market openings, which an ambitious and
balanced conclusion to the Round would achieve, would spur economic growth
not only in North America but in all countries.

 

"That is why leaders at the G20 Summit in Toronto last month - including
President Obama and Prime Minister Harper - committed to continued
engagement among key countries to resolve differences and move toward the
conclusion of a meaningful round.

 

---

 

Andrew Gussert
Director, Citizens Trade Campaign

 

Cell#:  202.494.8826
Fax#:  202.293.5308
 <http://www.citizenstrade.org> www.citizenstrade.org

skype/agussert

facebook/gussert
twitter/agussert

 

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