Washington, D.C. -- United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk today met on Capitol Hill with House Trade Working Group Chairman Mike Michaud (ME-2), Representative Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), Representative Betty Sutton (OH-13), and other working group members to discuss the upcoming negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade matters. Ambassador Kirk met with other key members of Congress on the Hill today as well.
"This Administration is committed to consulting with Congress on trade. Our goal, as always, is to craft job-creating proposals that serve the interests and deserve the support of elected leaders and of the citizens they represent," said Ambassador Kirk. "Today's meeting was an honest, constructive dialogue aimed at finding common ground. As we move forward with the President's trade agenda, we will continue to regularly consult with House and Senate committees of jurisdiction and with other members of Congress, including the House Trade Working Group."
Negotiations on the TPP begin in Melbourne, Australia on March 15; President Obama announced on December 14, 2009, that he intended to enter into negotiations of the regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement with the objective of shaping a high-standard, broad-based regional pact.
