HAZEL CREST—(ENEWSPF)—December 17, 2014. Congresswoman Robin Kelly hosted U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Wednesday at a roundtable with more than a dozen business leaders in the 2nd District to discuss international trade issues.
The roundtable, which took place at the Hazel Crest headquarters of Mi-Jack Products, focused on U.S. trade agreements and helping Illinois businesses compete in the international marketplace. Representatives with Nucor Steel, Best Diamond Plastics, Whiting Corporation, Gelita, Solvay Inc., Avatar Corporation and Landauer were also present at the roundtable.
“The meeting was a unique opportunity for our local business community to have an audience with the Ambassador to air their international trade concerns,” Kelly said. “Business leaders were able to share their experiences in importing materials from overseas and offered input on future trade agreements with Europe and Asia.”
“It was great to join Congresswoman Kelly and local businesses and manufacturers in her district today to discuss President Obama’s trade agenda,” Ambassador Froman said. “Last year, Illinois exported $66.1 billion of Made-in-America goods to the world, supporting 339,000 jobs. Our goal is to build on that success by removing trade barriers abroad so that local businesses can sell to the world. Our discussion today also focused on how the President’s trade agenda helps level the playing field for American businesses and workers by setting higher labor and environment standards with our trading partners.”
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is the agency responsible for developing and recommending trade policy to the President of the United States. Ambassador Froman negotiates directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, and meets with business groups, legislators and public interest groups to gather input on trade issues and to discuss the President’s trade policy positions.
Source: robinkelly.house.gov
