OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Executive Office of the President

Washington, D.C.

20508

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For Immediate Release Contact: TOM TRIPP

September 24, 1999 Helaine Klasky

Amy Stilwell

(202) 395-3230

USTR Welcomes State and Local Support of the 1999 WTO Ministerial

United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky applauded resolutions recently adopted by the National Governors' Association (NGA) and by the Western Governors' Association (WGA) which express support for the1999 WTO Ministerial Conference and reinforce the importance of trade liberalization. The WTO Ministerial will be held in Seattle, Washington, from November 30 to December 3, and will launch a new Round of global trade negotiations.

"United States Governors are keenly aware that the economic well-being of their constituents increasingly depends upon our ability to sell U.S. goods, services, and farm products to the rest of the world," stated Ambassador Barshefsky. "WTO rules help to do this by lowering trade barriers abroad."

Other state and local associations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), and the Council of State Governments (CSG) have similarly expressed support for the trade rules of the WTO and the Ministerial Conference in Seattle.

"I believe there is a growing consensus among the elected leaders of our states and localities that America must continue to support open and fair trade, including trade agreements reached in the WTO, if we are to stay on the path of economic growth and prosperity at home," continued Ambassador Barshefsky. "I look forward to working with state and local officials in the coming months and years to achieve these objectives."

The resolutions passed by the NGA and the WGA may be obtained from http://www.nga.org/Pubs/Policies/EDC/edc-wto.asp and http://www.westgov.org/wga/policy/99/99008.htm, respectively.