For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 17, 2005
President Nominates Rob Portman as United States Trade Representative
The Roosevelt Room
9:36 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I'm pleased to announce my
nomination of Congressman Rob Portman to be our next United States
Trade Representative. For more than a decade, Rob Portman has been a
superb representative of the 2nd District of Ohio. He's earned the
trust of his constituents and the admiration of his colleagues. He
brings a record of achievement to this new assignment.
As a member of the House leadership, Rob has shown he can bring
together people of differing views to get things done. He's been a
tireless advocate for America's manufacturers and entrepreneurs. He's
a former international trade lawyer who has shown a deep dedication to
free and fair trade. And now he will bring that commitment to his new
role as U.S. Trade Representative.
As an Ohioan, Rob knows firsthand that millions of American jobs
depend on exports, including one in every five factory jobs. Our
country is home to about 5 percent of the world's population, and that
means 95 percent of our potential customers are abroad. To keep our
economy growing and creating jobs, we need to continue opening foreign
markets to American products. And Rob knows that America's farmers and
workers can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere in the world, so
long as the rules are fair.
Under the outstanding leadership of Ambassador Bob Zoellick, the
U.S. Trade Representative's office helped bring China and Taiwan into
the World Trade Organization, and worked with Congress to secure Trade
Promotion Authority. Bob and his team have completed free trade
agreements with 12 nations on five continents, that will open a
combined market of 124 million consumers for America's farmers and
manufacturers and small
business owners. I appreciate his fine service, and I will
continue to count on his wisdom and good judgment in his new post as
Deputy Secretary of State.
When he is confirmed by the Senate, Rob Portman will build on
Ambassador Zoellick's achievements. I've asked him to take on a bold
agenda. We need to continue to open markets abroad by pursuing
bilateral free trade agreements with partners around the world. We
need to finish our work to establish a free trade area of the Americas,
which will become the largest free trade zone in the world. We need to
complete the Doha round negotiations within the World Trade
Organization to reduce global barriers to trade. We must continue to
vigorously enforce the trade laws on the books so that American
businesses and workers are competing on a level playing field.
Rob is the right man to carry out this agenda. I've known him for
many years. He is a good friend, a decent man, and a skilled
negotiator. He understands that trade creates jobs, raises living
standards, and lowers prices for families here at home. Rob also
understands that as the world trades more freely, it becomes more free
and prosperity abounds.
Rob Portman will be a fine leader for the dedicated men and women
who work in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. I'm grateful
he's agreed to serve. I'm grateful to his wife, Jane, and their three
children, Jed, Will and Sally. I urge the Senate to promptly confirm
this outstanding nominee as America's Trade Representative, and I look
forward to welcoming Rob into my Cabinet. Congratulations.
MR. PORTMAN: Mr. President, thank you very much. I am very proud
to stand at your side, and I am grateful for you giving me this
opportunity to join your Cabinet and promote the bold international
trade agenda you just described.
As you and I have discussed, open markets and better trade
relations are key components to a more peaceful, a more stable and a
more prosperous world. Through expanded trade, the roots of democracy
and freedom are deepened. And here at home, trade policy opens markets
to create jobs, a higher standard of living and greater economic
growth.
For the past four years, Mr. President, you have been passionate
about your vision for free and fair trade. And through your personal
commitment to it and the tireless work of my good friend Bob Zoellick,
former Trade Representative, and his superb team, you have made a lot
of progress. I look forward to being able to try to build on that
progress.
I would not be here today without the strong support of my family,
who have joined us here. I'm fortunate to have a great partner, my
wife Jane, who is both the love of my life and the best mother I can
possibly imagine. And I couldn't be prouder of my three children, Jed,
Will and Sally. They've all given this new responsibility their
blessing.
Sally, who is a fourth grader, had to admit that she had never
heard of the U.S. Trade Representative. (Laughter.) However, Mr.
President, she said, "Dad, it sounds like a really neat job."
(Laughter.) And it is, and a very important responsibility during
historic times.
It's very tough to imagine leaving Congress and my many friends
there, including Speaker Hastert. Dennis Hastert took me under his
wing and gave me a seat at the leadership table, and I'll be forever
grateful for that. However, if confirmed, I look forward to continuing
to work very closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and
in both houses of Congress.
I want to thank my superb staff. They have been fantastic for me
and for the 2nd District of Ohio. And finally, I owe so much to the
constituents of Ohio's 2nd District. I've had the honor to represent
them for almost 12 years now, and I'm very proud of what we've been
able to accomplish. The people of Southern Ohio, and my hometown of
Cincinnati, have given me opportunities to serve that I never dreamed
possible. For their friendship and their support, Jane and I will be
forever grateful.
Thank you again, Mr. President. I look forward to serving on your
team.
END 9:44 A.M. EST
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