Blog - May 2009

"For U.S. Trade Chief, Patience Is Key"
05/31/2009 - 1:42pm

On Saturday, May 30, Brian Knowlton of the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune profiled Ambassador Kirk in his new role as U.S. Trade Representative. Read parts of the article below, and the full article online.

 

“I understand the pain,” Mr. Kirk said, noting that his in-laws in Detroit include many past or present auto workers. “To save trade, we’ve got to do it in a way that we are more responsible, and responsive, to those who are skeptical about it.”

Mr. Kirk, a big, droll man with an outsize personality, says he does not have “deal fever,” indicating no rush to slam together new trade deals, even if the local politician in him hates to see solvable issues drag on. He has said that existing trade pacts must be more strictly enforced, particularly on environmental and labor standards, even if the bad economy complicates that work.

Some trade specialists see his early remarks as auguring a reassuringly steady course.

“So far, the big story is the continuity of U.S. trade policy” under Mr. Kirk, said Daniel Griswold, director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute. “It’s been pleasantly surprising for trade advocates.”

Ambassador Kirk to Deliver Keynote Address at U.S.-China Business Council
05/31/2009 - 12:17pm

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will deliver a keynote address on “US-China Trade Relations Today and Tomorrow” at the U.S.-China Business Council’s 36th Annual Membership meeting on Tuesday, June 2.

Ambassador Kirk will discuss the importance of the U.S.-China bilateral trade relationship and the cooperative work of constructing a positive and comprehensive relationship between the U-S and China.

Last month, Ambassador Kirk met with Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and exchanged views on a range of bilateral and multilateral trade issues. Ambassador Kirk and Minister Chen discussed the importance of avoiding protectionism and of utilizing cooperative mechanisms such as the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) to resolve bilateral trade issues whenever possible. They also discussed the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round and the importance of achieving a successful outcome that will spur new economic opportunities and contribute to global development and growth.

China is the United States’ 2nd largest goods trading partner with $409 billion in two-way goods trade in 2008, a 6 percent increase over 2007. China was the third largest market for U.S. exports in 2008.

Exports to China totaled $71.5 billion in 2008, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, and included electrical machinery, machinery, soybeans, aircraft and plastics. U.S. imports from China were valued at $337.8 billion during 2008, up 5.1 percent over the previous year, and included electrical machinery, machinery, toys and sports equipment, furniture and bedding and footwear.