Last Friday, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk traveled to Miami to discuss how President Obama’s trade and economic agenda is supporting more jobs for people in Florida and across the country. In the morning, he participated in a White House Business Council meeting with local business leaders at Miami Dade College. The discussions focused on a variety of topics that impact businesses in Florida, including passage and entry into force of the new trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, as well as the importance of infrastructure.
Later in the morning, Ambassador Kirk spoke to and took questions from members of the Beacon Council – a Miami-based non-profit that helps to attract and keep businesses in the Miami area. The conversation focused on President Obama’s plan to grow American jobs and strengthen the middle class through increased exports of ‘Made in America’ products. Ambassador Kirk highlighted the key trade policy accomplishments of the Obama Administration, and the positive impact they’ve had on employment rates and growth of exports for the Miami region.
“In terms of trade, we are opening up markets abroad so that leaders like you can expand your businesses internationally,” Ambassador Kirk said in his remarks. “Goods exports from the greater Miami region were up more than 20 percent last year to $43.1 billion overall. That total includes, for example, $10.2 billion worth of computers and electronic products, $5.8 billion worth of transportation equipment, and $3.8 billion worth of machinery,” he said.
“More importantly, those dollar amounts support real paychecks for tens of thousands of Floridians working in export industries. And we are working to help you do even better,” said Ambassador Kirk.
After his speech at the Beacon Council, Ambassador Kirk participated in a roundtable meeting with The Council of the Americas, where the group discussed enforcement issues, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the addition of new TPP member countries Mexico and Canada. They also talked about the economic relationship between the U.S. and Brazil.
Ambassador Kirk’s visit to Miami highlights the Obama Administration’s commitment to ensuring that ’Made in America’ remain the most powerful brand in the world, and that the United States remains the best place in the world to innovate, invest, build a business or get a job.
