WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) said he supports former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk’s nomination for U.S. Trade Representative, which was approved by voice vote today by the Senate Finance Committee. During a hearing on Mr. Kirk’s nomination held earlier this week, Roberts stressed the need for the country’s lead trade negotiator to be in place as soon as possible. He submitted the following statement:

"As former Mayor of Dallas, you know better than most of the important role of international trade. Your support for passage of past trade agreements provides a good glimpse of your position on trade. As you work to implement the current administration’s trade agenda, I am hopeful that we can find more areas of common ground.

"As the Chairman said, I am strongly concerned about the anti-trade sentiment that seems to be hovering over Congress and the public policy arena. It has become far too easy to blame our current woes on international trade, when in fact, U.S. exports have long supported economic growth. If we move in that direction we run the risk of isolating ourselves from the global marketplace. I stand ready to work with you to renew public support for the benefits of trade and to enhance our ability to compete and thrive in a global economy, whether it is market expansion or market preservation.

"Just as concerning, however, are actions at the domestic level that may appear to be protectionist could, in turn, cause other countries to act in kind. Unfortunately, we’ve already seen cases like the EU biotech moratorium case where countries have blocked our corn exports with non-tariff trade barriers under the guise of science. I am hopeful that as you engage with your colleagues representing our trading partners, that you encourage resistance to policies that impede trade flows.

"As a Senator from a state that exports half of the wheat acres harvested and one-third of all planted acres, preserving and increasing access to foreign markets is critical for Kansas farmers and ranchers. In addition to being the largest wheat producing state, Kansas is also the largest beef processing state in the country. Cattle outnumber Kansans more than 2-1. Given that population, I’m attuned to the problems that we’ve had reopening our foreign beef markets in the post-BSE era. Despite being designated as a "controlled risk" country by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the proof that our interlocking food safety system works, countries are still balking at fully reopening their markets to our products."

In his questions, Senator Roberts stressed the importance of reopening foreign markets to U.S. beef and agriculture, ensuring the open trade flows created by the North American Free Trade Agreement, and encouraged forward movement on the ongoing challenge before the World Trade Organization regarding unfair subsidies provided by Europe to Airbus.

Mr. Kirk’s nomination was approved by the Senate Finance Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote. Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

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