Obama Calls for US to ‘Up Our Game’ on Exports
EmailFrom Sunlen Miller and Karen Travers:
Calling on the United States to "up our game," President Obama today pledged again to double America's exports over the next five years, as first called for in his State of the Union address.
“We shouldn’t assume our leadership is guaranteed,” Obama said in front of the Export-Import Bank’s conference, “When other markets are growing, and other nations are competing, we need to get even better. We need to secure our companies a level playing field. We need to guarantee American workers a fair shake. In other words, we need to up our game.”
The president addressed the group’s annual conference in Washington, DC to outline initial steps his administration is taking to achieve that goal within what the administration is dubbing the “National Export Initiative.”
This morning the president signed an Executive Order creating an Export Promotion Cabinet – made up of the Secretaries of State, Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, the U.S. Trade Representative, Small Business Administrator, the Export-Import Bank President, and other senior U.S. officials – to support the effort. That cabinet will convene its first meeting next month and will make recommendations to the president going forward.
The president also re-launched the President’s Export Council – the national advisory committee on international trade and Jim McNerney, the President and CEO of Boeing, as its chair; and Ursula Burns, the CEO of Xerox, as vice chair.
The first three aims of the National Export Initiative would to increase financing, advocacy and assistance for American businesses.
“We’ll substantially increase access to trade financing for businesses that want to export their goods but just need a boost – especially small businesses and medium-sized businesses,” Obama said.
He added he would “go to bat” for American businesses and workers, promising to lead this effort personally as president, starting with his trip to Indonesia and Australia next week.
“In both countries, I will highlight the role that American business plays there, and underscore how strong economic partnerships can create jobs on both sides of the Pacific while advancing both regional – and global – prosperity.”
The president also said they will “unleash a battery of comprehensive and coordinated efforts” to promote new markets and opportunities for American exporters.
“We’ll provide a comprehensive toolkit of services – from financing to counseling to promotion – to help potential exporters grow and expand. We’ll create public-private partnerships to help firms break into new markets with the help of those who have been there – shipping and supply-chain companies, for example. And we’ll increase funding for existing promotion efforts.”
Lastly the president said American companies must have free and fair access to markets – and that the US must enforce trade agreements already on the books.
“When when we give other countries the privilege of that free and fair access, we can expect it in return. That’s the spirit in which we’ll move forward. We’ll continue to work towards an ambitious and balanced Doha agreement – not just for the sake of any agreement, but for one that enhances market access for American agriculture, goods, and services. We’ll strengthen relations with key partners like South Korea, Panama, and Colombia, with the goal of moving forward with existing agreements in a way that upholds our values.”
Analysts say that achieving this goal without enacting any of the outstanding free trade agreements will be difficult and don’t see any substantial commitment from the White House to push those deals to completion.
During an appearance on ABC News’ “Top Line" last month, Fred Hochberg, chairman of the Export-Import Bank, played down the significance of stalled trade agreements with Columbia, South Korea, and Panama as an impediment to spurring job growth through doubling US exports.
“The free trade agreements are important and he’s certainly signaled his support for that, but we can double exports, they are not the barrier or the impediment to doubling exports,” Hochberg said of the pending trade agreements.
During his speech today Mr. Obama acknowledged that the issue of trade has long evoked “passions” and there are large differences in opinion between Democrats, Republicans and business and labor.
“I also know we’re at a moment where it is absolutely necessity for us to get beyond those old debates. Those who would once support every trade agreement now see that other countries have to play fair and agreements have to be enforced. Otherwise putting America at a profound disadvantage. Those who once would once oppose any trade agreement now understand that there are new markets and new sectors out there we need to break into if we want our workers to get ahead.”
-Sunlen Miller and Karen Travers
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*sigh*…usual empty rhetoric from Obama.
Posted by: rolltr | March 11, 2010, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
I can’t even look at the man anymore.
Can’t stand to hear his voice.
He was tolerable before, barely.
Obama is all about himself, the rest of us do not matter. It becomes more clear every day. All that matters to him is power.
Posted by: fran | March 11, 2010, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
export the evangelical fringe, ..
the real american taliban
Posted by: King O' Swing | March 11, 2010, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
Trade agreements aside, Pres. Obama doesn’t address the main problem. No other country wants our exports because they cost too much. To an extent, we can thank unions for that.
Posted by: TXmom | March 11, 2010, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
What are we going to export?
High tech items we get from Japan/Taiwan/China.
Raw materials like steal we get from China.
Machinary we get from Central and South American Companies and China(wind turbines anyone).
Clothing we get from China and Mexico.
…what does that leave that we can export?
Unrefined materials maybe but then China is already buying up Oil leases in the Gulf, not to mention they have extensive drilling and mining operations over the globe.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 11, 2010, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
Uh sure, what about the regulations the buffoons in DC (minus Ron Paul) have put in place to make us less competitive in the globalized economy. Quit grandstanding and get to the meat of the issue. Just walk to Ron Paul’s office and ask for help. It is ok and he doesn’t bite.
Posted by: Huh | March 11, 2010, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
This is a very funny piece. After torpedoing the dollar, the Pres is going to singlehandedly drive exports. Well, just sit back. If we know how to make anything anymore it will happen by itself.
Posted by: mitchscove | March 11, 2010, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
We have to make something…….before we can export it.
Memo to Obama…….we sent all of our manufacturing to China……remember????
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 11, 2010, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
. After torpedoing the dollar, the Pres is going to singlehandedly drive exports.
__________________________________
Hardly. He’s calling for a focused effort on increasing exports.
Posted by: tierra | March 11, 2010, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
We have to make something…….before we can export it.
Memo to Obama…….we sent all of our manufacturing to China……remember????
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Mar 11, 2010 1:55:18 PM
_______________________________________
If you’re interesting in buying American made products – or just finding out what is manufactured in the country, just g**gle ‘American made’. You’ll find lots of stuff.
Posted by: tierra | March 11, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Team Obama: Culture of Corruption
Docs: Obama Justice Dept Shut Down Federal ACORN Probe into Corruption, Voter Registration Fraud…
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 11, 2010, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
GALLUP: New low for Obama; 46% approve; 45% disapprove…
tripping over his own lies
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 11, 2010, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
Monthly Federal Budget Deficit Balloons to Record; Up 14% from 2009…
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 11, 2010, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
We live in a world market, where other countries work for lower wages, work longer hours, don’t have unions, pay lower taxes and have at least as good of work ethic. So… how to increase export?
Put together some more government staff, spend more of the people’s money and try to “force” other countries to buy our more expensive goods?
It won’t work. Sadly, our economy is so expensive that we can’t compete in the world market. The only solution is to get our costs down. That means lower taxes, lower wages and renewed innovation. Its a sad time for the US.
Posted by: Bill | March 11, 2010, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
GALLUP: Credibility drops for global warming, scientists…
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 11, 2010, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
He’s a NAFTA man.. this is all a part of his I had a dream.. requeim.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 11, 2010, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Obama AKA Nikita Kruschev with an innovative Five Year Plan. Kruschev could not order success of them and neither can the Bolshevik in Chief in the White House.
Posted by: mickeymat | March 11, 2010, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Russia still has crappy kitchens.. they should have listened to Nixon.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 11, 2010, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
The POTUS said it himself.. during this speech.. whilst decrying imported goods.. we long for a cheap TV set. If we really want to promote jobs.. go out and buy something made in the U.S. and do some research about the actual content..
The only victims of this sort of deal will be the Western European economies.. the pacrim slavers cannot lose..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 11, 2010, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Tierr(or)a the President is an educated man. Can he speak for himself, or do you have to translate human words into talking points?
Posted by: jafo | March 11, 2010, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
The sad thing is Obama actually believes what he is saying.
Posted by: Woody | March 11, 2010, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
I am sorry, but his plan will mean nothing if it does not involve ending our Imperial based measuring system and only use Metric. Why? Because if you are a shop worker, you need to purchase your own tools and only American Workers must have two set (Imperial and Metric) of tools to work anywhere. If not, then, the company must have the two sets of tools and two sets of hardware in stock/inventory to produce or repair things or products. All other countries only use Metric. How is that being competitive? We have to spend more just because we are forced to support to different hardwares. That is BS and Stupidity to the MAX! END “AMERICAN STANDARD HARDWARE” AND ONLY USE METRIC!
Posted by: BeholdersEye | March 11, 2010, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
This guy is a joke.
An Export Promotion Cabinet?
The President’s Export Council?
More red tape more Blah, Blah, Blah!
President Obama doesn’t have a clue as to how to increase our exports just as
he doesn’t have a clue as to how to
create jobs!
He does however know how to put us and
our families into unsustainable debt!
This guy makes the Titanic look good.
Posted by: reaganfan | March 12, 2010, 12:30 am 12:30 am
Hopefully- Obama will be history long before five years. The Birds and the Worms gotta eat too. America will win at the end but not before all the corruption has been terminated. Other countries have rushed at the corruption and destroyed it. Maybe at a great loss of lives but someone elses children will live in a better world…
Posted by: Steve Duffey | March 12, 2010, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
You people irritate me. You have no faith in the ability of our country to provide anything worthwhile to the rest of the world. If every great American that helped shape this country thought like you, we would not have the country we live in today. I am so tired of negative self defeating people preaching doom and destruction. You are no better than the politicians that have been feeding us lies for years while they make each other rich. People are controlled through fear. Some of you need to wake up and realize you are caught in the matrix. We have intelligent, skilled, and innovative people in our country that can help change the world if given a chance. Lets hope the current administration gets enough things right to give them the chance they need. Since we already know doing things the old ways has not worked out so well. Step up, swallow the red pill, and free your minds. The only thing stopping our country are the people telling us what we can’t do.
Posted by: Life Experience | March 12, 2010, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
The only thing Ursula Burns is familiar with is exporting jobs! Obama’s choices of counsel certainly do lack power and true reason. A number of his choices in the last 12 months had failed to pay their taxes (what? only the poor and middle class need to pay taxes?!..the politically connected don’t count?!) A few years back Ursula was a driving force behind bringing TaTa (a company in India) on board to to do RoHS (removal of hazardous substances) Conversion of circuit boards. TaTa failed miserably (how do I know, I was there, they had 6 months to do the work, when the work was returned (to U.S. Soil, the work was completed in less than 3 weeks). But Xerox continues to work with them. They (Xerox) have also signed on with HCL (another company for India) to do design work. Like many U.S. companies, Xerox is sending jobs and work overseas. Obama is a twit for making such a choice. Xerox is going into it’s second year without pay raises (they are not alone). Ursula just received a $200K pay raise. But she is covered. In the same web-cast that she announced that there would be layoffs and no pay increases, she said that only those who had received promotions with additional responsibilities would receive additional money. She’s covered, she was promoted from President to CEO. Those who can do, those that can’t get promoted (Ursula started off as an engineer as Xerox). Being high paid doesn’t make a person smart or capable. I’m certain that the ‘XEROX’ marque will remain for years (in Connecticut) just not as the same company that made the brand what it is. Joe Wilson would not like what is before us today. Re-think your choice of counsel Barack, those that you seek advice from are the same ones that are destroying AMERICA!!! Or is that your intention? An individual cannot borrow their way to prosperity, what makes you (or any politician) think that AMERICA can?!
Posted by: Upstate10 | March 12, 2010, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm
The only victims of this sort of deal will be the Western European economies.. the pacrim slavers cannot lose..
Posted by: Ilan Ben Menachem | March 13, 2010, 11:33 am 11:33 am