World Trade Week, 2009

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Part XXII

The President

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Proclamation 8373--World Trade Week, 2009

Proclamation 8374--National Day of Prayer, 2009

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8373 of May 6, 2009

World Trade Week, 2009

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

When the world's consumers fly in a U.S.-manufactured
airplane, eat a steak from America's heartland, watch a
Hollywood movie, or visit the Grand Canyon, they are
helping to create and maintain good jobs for Americans.

World Trade Week is an opportunity to reaffirm the
benefits of trade and to emphasize America's commitment
to a global marketplace that creates good jobs and
lifts up American families. The United States and our
trading partners stand to gain when trade is open,
transparent, rules-based, and fair, showing respect for
labor and environmental standards.

The United States is well-positioned to reap the
benefits of trade. America is a leader in the global
marketplace and ranks at the top of almost every
measure of global competitiveness. Our businesses,
workers, and farmers remain the most innovative,
productive, and adaptable in the world. The United
States is also the world's largest exporter.

Trade is a significant and increasingly important
contributor to U.S. economic growth. Exports accounted
for 13 percent of U.S. economic activity in 2008, and
they support millions of jobs in the United States. In
difficult economic times, it is even more important for
American industry to take advantage of every
opportunity for export-driven growth. That is why I
will work to open more markets to U.S. exports,
including in such important job growth industries as
energy efficiency, clean energy, and health information
technology.

Imports can also benefit the United States by
increasing consumer choice while lowering prices for
millions of working families. In addition, imports can
support employment for retailers, distributors, the
transportation sector, and domestic manufacturers which
rely on global supply chains to make products for both
the U.S. and international markets.

We must ensure that the benefits of trade are spread
more widely. This can be achieved by training and
supporting Americans and ensuring that trade agreements
provide the economic opportunities that Americans
deserve. Workers who lose their jobs through no fault
of their own deserve the chance to be retrained for a
new economic environment. That is one of the reasons I
signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA), which improves Trade Adjustment Assistance
to help families that are struggling now. For the long
term, the ARRA also invests in an education system that
will prepare our children to compete and succeed in the
global economy.

We will negotiate future trade agreements to create
opportunities for all Americans. My Administration is
committed to building on existing trade agreements and
bilateral investment treaties in an open and
transparent manner. In consultation with the American
people, the Congress, key stakeholders, and our trading
partners, I am developing a plan of action for pending
free trade agreements. I will also work with our
trading partners to advance a strong market-opening
agreement for agriculture, industrial goods, and
services through the Doha Development Round and through

other negotiations. Together, we can build a trading
regime that spreads its benefits among Americans and
also benefits workers in our partner countries.

Transparency and inclusiveness are central principles
we must adhere to as we seek to expand trade. When
trade agreements are negotiated in consultation with
the American people, the benefits of trade can be
understood more broadly. Through open dialogue, the
concerns of American and foreign workers can be
addressed and the environmental consequences of trade
agreements can be identified and mitigated.

With a transparent, free, and fair framework, we can
make trade a powerful contributor to the revival of the
U.S. and global economies.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim May 17 through May
23, 2009, as World Trade Week. I encourage all
Americans to observe this week with events, trade
shows, and educational programs that celebrate the
benefits of trade to our Nation and the global economy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand
nine, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and thirty-third.