Executive Session

Floor Speech

EXECUTIVE SESSION -- (Senate - March 18, 2009)

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Mayor Ron Kirk on his nomination to serve as President Obama's U.S. trade representative. I am proud to support the confirmation of my fellow Texan.

Following World War II, the United States recognized a need to engage foreign nations and harmonize global economic trade. President Kennedy recognized the value in placing a single chief U.S. trade negotiator in charge of these responsibilities. Later, President Ford elevated this important position to Cabinet rank. Since then, Congress has worked with many administrations to strengthen the ability of the U.S. trade representative to enforce existing trade agreements and open new markets for American workers, farmers, and consumers.

Mayor Kirk would lead the office of U.S. trade representative during the most challenging global financial crisis in history. The World Bank predicts that the global economy will shrink this year for the first time in more than six decades. People in many nations are suffering, and calls for new trade barriers grow louder. However, the U.S. trade representative must speak clearly and calmly against protectionism. He must show how open markets can renew global prosperity and lift millions in the developing world out of poverty.

I believe President Obama chose the right man for this job. As mayor of Dallas, Ron Kirk saw how open markets create new opportunities for our people. His trade missions to other nations encouraged new export growth. He engaged and recruited foreign investors thereby attracting new jobs into the city. And he recognized that the North American Free Trade Agreement would bring additional export-related jobs to the region. While many roundly criticized that accord, Mayor Kirk put it to work for the residents of Dallas. His leadership in the late 1990s helped reenergize the local economy. By 2007, the Dallas-Fort Worth area was exporting more than $22 billion of goods and services to foreign markets.

Mayor Kirk's confirmation will fill an important void in President Obama's Cabinet. Mayor Kirk has demonstrated that he will warn against protectionism. This voice is needed in the Cabinet.

Congress recently voted to suspend the cross-border transportation pilot program occurring at the southern border of my State of Texas. This shortsighted cancellation was met immediately with news that the government of Mexico will retaliate by levying new tariffs on U.S. made products.

This unfortunate situation was avoidable had my colleagues heeded warnings of the retaliation that this policy change would incur upon our economy. These tariffs amount to a $2.4 billion tax increase on American made products, and one economist estimates a loss of approximately 40,000 jobs.

At a time when Congress should be working to expand markets for our goods and create jobs in the United States, Congress is instead provoking the ire of the customers who buy American products and services. Our workers and our consumers deserve a trade ambassador that will ensure economic policy is rooted in the best interest of the economy rather than political payback.

The President has three economic remedies available immediately. The pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea will create jobs in the United States. Consumers in these countries have a voracious appetite for American goods and services. My State of Texas is the top exporter to both Colombia and Panama and the second leading exporter to Korea. These destinations represented a $9.5 billion market for Texas-made goods and services in 2008.

The hard work is over; these agreements have been negotiated and signed. I urge the administration to work with Congress and pass these beneficial accords.

Mayor Kirk is not the first choice of those who fail to recognize the benefits of free trade, but he's the first choice of the President--and a good choice for American exporters and consumers. The continuing global financial crisis demands a strong leader at USTR--and Mayor Kirk will fill this role well.

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