Congressman Sander Levin

(Washington D.C.)- Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI) issued the following statements today following U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Locke’s announcement regarding the Administration’s export promotion strategy:

“The U.S. government must play a principal role in securing the reciprocal market access our trade agreements promise,” said Chairman Rangel.  “Promoting U.S. exports is a critical component of the U.S. economic recovery and job creation efforts and I support Secretary Locke and the Administration’s work to open new markets and make sure that U.S. goods and services get fair market access abroad.”

“Secretary Locke has laid out some of the necessary changes in direction so that expanded exports can play an important role in creating new jobs, a number one challenge,” said Trade Subcommittee Chairman Levin.  “First, government must be an active partner to assist the private sector, especially small and medium-sized businesses not actively participating in trade today, and second, trade policies must make certain that other markets are as open as U.S. markets and that trade agreements are enforced.”

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