Ambassador Kirk is a member of President Obama's cabinet and serves as the president's principal trade advisor, negotiator and spokesperson on trade issues.
Ambassador Kirk draws upon more than 25 years of diverse legislative and economic experience on local, state and federal levels. As the first African American mayor of Dallas from 1995 - 2001, he earned a reputation for bringing together diverse coalitions to get things done.' During his tenure as mayor, Ambassador Kirk expanded Dallas' reach to the world through a range of trade programs, including numerous trade missions. His economic development efforts helped secure more than 45,000 jobs and investment of more than $3.5 billion in Dallas.
'As United States Trade Representative, I am working hard to ensure that Americans continue to reap all the benefits of trade ' more and better opportunities in the international marketplaces, more and better jobs here at home, and more choices at lower prices in their local shopping center," said Ambassador Kirk.
'With a timely and thought-provoking address, Ambassador Kirk delivered a powerful message, driving home the budding importance for retail in the global marketplace,' said RILA President Sandy Kennedy. "Ambassador Kirk also highlighted the importance of international trade as an engine of U.S. economic growth, and noted that 43 million Americans owe their livelihoods to trade."
