Tim Ryan, president and CEO of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), today issued the following statement on the announcement by President-elect Barack Obama that he will nominate Ron Kirk as U.S. trade representative:
“SIFMA welcomes the announcement that president-elect Obama intends to nominate Ron Kirk as United States trade representative. We recognize the need for U.S. global leadership, and the importance of open trade and investment for economic growth and job creation. Global financial services firms and their customers still face market access and national treatment barriers that prevent full participation in key markets. Trade agreements are a vitally important tool to reduce and eliminate these barriers, and provide the legal certainty and clarity that helps encourage confidence at a time when this is truly needed. We look forward to working with Mr. Kirk in this role.”
