It will also push for greater access for
American companies to operate in countries under a Trans-Pacific deal,
negotiations for which will be launched next week.
US Trade
Representative Ron Kirk said his office will publish a new report this
month on trade barriers erected by countries on US exports.
They
include "unfair" non-tariff barriers linked to health and pest issues
imposed on US farm exports.
"This month, we will introduce a new,
comprehensive report that will help us to identify and address
troublesome technical barriers to trade and unfair restrictions on
agricultural exports known as sanitary and phytosanitary barriers," he
said in a speech at the National Press Club in Washington.
"As
tariff barriers fall, these non-tariff barriers are becoming some of the
most difficult challenges our exporters face," he said. "And we will
use those reports to guide our work in seeking to address each problem
with an appropriate solution."
US officials have complained about
foreign rules governing poultry sanitation, restrictions on pork and
pork products in response to the H1N1 virus, barriers on the import of
US beef, and regulations governing some genetically modified food
products.
In the European Union,
Japan and elsewhere, the officials argue, certain regulations and
enforcement actions are inconsistent with scientific evidence and
internationally accepted guidelines.
Facing pressure to boost jobs
to help an economic revival, Obama unveiled the National Export
Initiative last month to pry open foreign markets for US exports,
targeting huge emerging economies like China, India and Brazil.
The
initiative is aimed at doubling US exports in five years with a
strategy to identify markets for fast-growing sectors such as
environmental goods and services, renewable energy, healthcare and
biotechnology.
The government wants to help create two million
jobs under the export push in the US, still reeling from near
double-digit unemployment that threatens to dampen its economic
recovery.
US exports in 2009 totaled 1.553 trillion dollars,
falling from 1.827 trillion in 2008.
Kirk also said that the
United States expected greater market access through the Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP) linking the United States with an initial group of
seven nations -- Australia,
Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
Negotiations
for the TPP deal will be launched in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15
and Kirk said discussions would center on export opportunities for
small- and medium-sized businesses and promoting innovation and
competitiveness.
"And we will exchange ideas on ways to promote
regulatory coherence, which would make it easier for American companies
to operate across the region," he said.
He also said that the
United States was working to further increase market-access
opportunities within the 10 Southeast Asian countries that make up the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the fifth-largest US
trade partner.
Among steps to be taken is a joint initiative to
boost exports.
"In May, I will join ASEAN trade ministers in a
multi-city tour that will permit an exchange between government and
business on ways to expand trade and investment opportunities in US and
ASEAN markets," he said.