20 March 2009

The Cabinet: U.S. Trade Representative

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk

Ron Kirk was sworn in March 20, 2009, as U.S. Trade Representative. Kirk, an attorney, served two terms as mayor of Dallas. (See “Obama’s Top Trade Man Is Master of the Art of the Deal.”)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, established 1962

Mission: Developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct-investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries.

Staff: More than 200 people in offices in Washington and Geneva

Duties: The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is the president’s chief adviser and spokesperson on international trade policy. The USTR negotiates directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements and resolve trade disputes, and participates in global trade-policy organizations.

History: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative was established by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Since then, 15 individuals, including three women, have served as U.S. Trade Representative, which comes with the title “ambassador.”

International Commitments: In addition to promoting international trade, since the early 1980s the USTR has played a key role in the expansion of intellectual property laws worldwide and monitored efforts by other governments to protect intellectual property rights.

Fun fact: The United States is one of the most open markets in the world, with average agricultural tariffs of 12 percent (compared with the global average tariff of 62 percent).

More information: U.S. Trade Representative.

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