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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>Remarks by Ambassador Ron Kirk<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>July 23, 2010 to Toronto Board of Trade<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/speeches/transcripts/2010/july/remarks-ambassador-kirk-toronto-board-trade<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>*As Prepared for Delivery*<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>(Excerpt on NAFTA 'renegotiation')<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>(Excerpt on 'Buy American' Requirements)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“Last year when the Canadian government approached the United States expressing its concern over the Buy American requirements in the Recovery Act, I listened.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>(Excerpt on Doha)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>(More on Doha)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“We need to seek areas where we can work together to spur economic growth and opportunity between –and within – our countries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"'>---<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:navy'>Andrew Gussert<br>Director, Citizens Trade Campaign</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:gray'>Cell#: 202.494.8826<br>Fax#: 202.293.5308<br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:navy'><a href="http://www.citizenstrade.org"><span style='color:gray'>www.citizenstrade.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:gray'>skype/agussert</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:gray'>facebook/gussert<br>twitter/agussert</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:gray'>To receive regular trade updates, </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><a href="http://www.citizenstrade.org/mailman/listinfo/ctcfield"><span style='color:gray'>click here.</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>