USW Statement on President Obama’s Appointment To Lead New Interagency Trade Enforcement Center

For More Information, Contact: Gary Hubbard (202) 256-8125; ghubbard@usw.org
                                 Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444; wranick@usw.org

Washington, D.C (May 14) — United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard issued the following statement today on President Obama’s appointment of Bradford Ward to head the new U.S. Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC):

“Today President Obama sent another powerful message that trade enforcement is a priority by appointing Brad Ward as director of the new Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC). Brad has three decades as a trade practitioner at the U.S. Department of Commerce before joining the USTR in 2009 with the skills, experience and creativity to turn ITEC into a force for workers, farmers and businesses producing here in the United States.

“We are also pleased to learn the appointment of the ITEC Deputy Director as Constance Handley from the U.S. Commerce Department, where she has 15 years of trade enforcement experience.

“In the President’s 2012 State of the Union address, he highlighted the success of his administration’s efforts to enforce America’s trade laws and announced the creation of the new agency to coordinate trade enforcement among the myriad of responsible agencies.  His actions were followed by an Executive Order to create the necessary infrastructure. With today’s appointments, the new trade enforcement agency is ready to act.

“There are no shortages of unfair trade practices and barriers challenging our country’s ability to compete on a level playing field.  Success won’t happen overnight. There are far too many obstacles hindering our exports and harming our interests that must be confronted.  

“Trade enforcement is a vital component of a pro-growth, pro-jobs economic plan. The Trade Enforcement Center and its new director can help reverse course on the previous Republican administration’s neglect of this critical issue.”

The USW represents about 850,000 working men and women in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from energy, glassmaking to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber and other manufacturing environments to the public sector, service and health care industries. For more, go to www.usw.org

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