JOIN USAmid major reshuffling in US President Barack Obama’s cabinet for the second term, America’s top trade negotiator Ron Kirk on Wednesday announced that he will leave the administration by next month.
Kirk, US Trade Representative, is the latest member of Obama’s economic team to announce his departure. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Labour Secretary Hilda Solis have already announced that they are leaving.
Kirk on Wednesday announced his decision to leave the Obama Administration by late February. Obama has accepted Kirk’s resignation, noting that there is no question that he delivered results for the American people and for the US economy.
“From bringing home new trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama and negotiating to open up new markets for American businesses, to cracking down on unfair trade practices around the world, he has been a tremendous advocate for the American worker,” Obama said.
“Together, we have made great strides to bring about the President’s vision of a more robust, responsible, and responsive trade policy that opens markets to products stamped ‘Made-in-America’ and enforces Americans’ trade rights around the world – and does so in a way that is more consistent with America’s core values on issues like the rights of workers and the environment,” Kirk said.