U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Urges Western Hemisphere to ‘Resist the Protectionist Temptation’ at the Americas Competitiveness Forum in Chile

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Related ImageAs economies around the world continue to deal with the effects of the global economic slowdown, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke urged countries of the Western Hemisphere to resist temptations to turn inward and erect trade barriers during a keynote address today at the third Americas Competitiveness Forum in Santiago, Chile.

“The United States is committed to resisting the protectionist temptation because protectionism simply does not work,” said Locke. “I came to Chile this week to affirm that the Obama Administration will be your strongest ally in your efforts to revive economic growth in the Americas.”

Locke is leading a U.S. delegation to Santiago, Chile to participate in the third Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF). The ACF brings together representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss ways to spark innovation, create jobs and expand trade among the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. Department of Commerce hosted the first two ACFs in Atlanta in 2007 and 2008.

Secretary Locke is joined by the Presidents of Chile and Guatemala, as well as ministers of trade and economy from throughout the region and senior representatives from business and academia. This year’s ACF is focusing on energy and the environment, financing in times of crisis, increasing the value of supply chains, entrepreneurship and workforce development.