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95 Percent of The World's Consumers Live Outside The United States

By Merle David Kellerhals Jr.

The United States will take a tougher stance in protecting its rights in the global trading system, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says.

Kirk said the health of U.S. jobs, farms and businesses is at stake.

"New trade agreements can still open markets to U.S. goods and services, and so they are an important part of our mission," Kirk said July 16 before steelworkers in Pittsburgh.

"But we have to do more than just pursue new trade deals. We must also insist on respect for our rights in the global trading system, if Americans are to reap the real benefits trade has to offer," Kirk said.

Kirk added that 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States, and one of the easiest ways to grow American businesses and American jobs is to sell products to people outside U.S. borders. In 2008, U.S. exports generated about $2 trillion, and Kirk said exports of manufactured goods supported 6 million U.S. jobs.

He outlined efforts to strengthen U.S. trade rights that will enhance the benefits from trade agreements. The measures include closer monitoring to identify and respond to trade barriers that block trade in U.S. products abroad, such as technical regulations and standards that restrict U.S. exports, Kirk said.

The United States will also respond to food-safety barriers that impose restrictive regulations on food that are unwarranted, he said. "This will ensure our agricultural producers see their rights restored abroad," he said.

Kirk said these trade-liberalizing efforts are designed to support President Obama's commitment to trade that rejects protectionism and creates opportunities. The United States will still use traditional trade remedies such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidy laws to correct distortions of trade, he said.

Kirk said the United States will also hold its trading partners to commitments on workers' rights.

"Since 2001, the United States has entered into free trade agreements with 14 countries," he said. "Every one of those agreements contains an obligation to enforce domestic labor laws and to strive for labor standards that adhere to international norms," Kirk said. The United States will investigate labor violations before they can become a disadvantage to U.S. workers, he added.

Kirk, who began his job in March, has been conducting a review of trade policy. Trading partners are waiting to determine whether and how the new administration will change its negotiating stance. He met with World Trade Organization officials in Geneva May 13.

What foreign affairs decisions should President Obama consider? Comment on America.gov's blog ( http://blogs.america.gov/campaign/2009/01/21/day-2-what-should-obama%e2%80%99s-top-priorities-be/ ).

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)