Bond Receives Global Ambassador Award from the St. Louis World Trade Center
bond.senate.gov
September 24, 2010
ST. LOUIS, MO -U.S. Senator Kit Bond today received the Global Ambassador Award from the St. Louis World Trade Center, a division of the St. Louis County Economic Council. The award is in recognition of more than 40 years of Bond's outstanding leadership in promoting international trade and economic development.
"We have had a long partnership promoting free, fair and open trade in order to grow businesses and jobs for Missourians" said Bond. "History has taught us, that during times of economic stress and downturn, we ought to be expanding access to markets for American goods. And that is exactly what all of you at the St. Louis World Trade Center have been focused on and promoting successfully."
"Senator Bond has worked tirelessly ensuring that Missouri companies are represented in an increasingly global marketplace" said Tim Nowak, Executive Director for World Trade Center St. Louis. "We are honored to recognize his lifelong commitment to expanding St. Louis and Missouri's global reach."
At today's award ceremony, Bond recognized the World Trade Center and the St. Louis business community for their vision in recognizing early the importance of global trade to creating jobs and economic opportunity in Missouri communities. As Governor, Bond saw first-hand the benefits international trade brings to Missouri, when he began travelling to Asia as Governor to increase Missouri exports and two-way trade. Since becoming Senator, Bond has continued those trips as to promote Missouri agricultural and defense products.
Bond, one of the strongest advocates for free trade in Congress, stressed that increasing exports and trade is critical to the American economy. Currently, one-third of the American economy is now trade dependent, making it clear that trade is no longer a luxury, but vital to creating jobs here at home and expanding business opportunities overseas. The Senator pointed to President Obama's focus on expanding trade in his State of the Union address earlier this year, agreeing on the need to seek new markets aggressively and no longer sit on the sidelines. Bond emphasized one opportunity in particular, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, is an all-inclusive framework involving some of the most dynamic economies in Asia. This partnership would benefit U.S. workers, businesses, and farmers - as well as serve U.S. strategic interests, the Senator said. Bond also renewed his warning that elected officials must resist the politically-popular temptation to leverage tariffs and enact protectionist policies. Instead, to grow our economy now and to create the jobs of the future, Congress and the President must pursue Free Trade agreements.
"From Beijing to Bangkok, from Singapore to Shanghai and Mumbai to Malaysia, this vast, dynamic region is home to many opportunities for Missouri businesses" said Bond. "We can sell the most advanced aerospace and defense products in the world, we can share our science and biotechnology to improve crop yields, and we can help meet the ever-increasing demand for our world's energy, from clean coal technology, to renewable biomass."
