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SECRETARY EVANS HELPS TO STRENGHTEN ECONOMIC TIES WITH CHINA, IRELAND, MEXICO DURING ELEVEN-DAY JOBS TOUR
Evans Aggressive in Work to Level Playing Field for American Workers at All Stops

Guadalajara, Mexico - U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today wrapped up his eleven-day trip to China and Ireland with a visit to Mexico where he continued to stress the Bush Administration’s commitment to grow American jobs through free and fair trade.

In Mexico, Evans attended the Partnership for Prosperity 2004 Entrepreneurial Workshop, held bilateral meetings with President Vicente Fox, Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez and Mexican Secretary of Economy Fernando Canales.

“This administration is committed to engaging its trading partners and holding them accountable in order to create new opportunities for American workers and open new markets for American exporters,” said Evans. “Working together we can eliminate obstacles that hinder free trade, help unlock the economic potential of our economies and improve the quality of life for many families around the world.”

While in Mexico, Evans also witnessed the signing of an agreement between the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Association of Industry, Development, and Promotion for Housing of Mexico (CANADEVI). The agreement will help promote bilateral trade and information exchange between the housing sectors of Mexico and the United States and moves families on both sides of the border one step closer to owning a home. The agreement showcases the constructive public private dialogue taking place between housing sectors in both countries.

In China, Evans stressed the importance of China’s compliance with WTO obligations and called on senior Chinese government officials to eliminate trade barriers hindering U.S.-China trade relations. He was joined by Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao to participate in several of these events.

Secretary Evans cited the many positive strides that were made during his visit in advancing China’s economic engagement with the United States which included the announcement of a United States Patent and Trademark Office lawyer that will be stationed in the American embassy who speaks fluent Chinese and will focus full-time on advancing the U.S. intellectual property agenda in China. Evans also witnessed the signing of three U.S.-China business agreements in Beijing that will help grow American jobs.

Throughout his visit to China, Evans called for China to significantly reduce government micromanagement of the economy and introduce a far higher level of transparency before it can achieve a full transition to a market-driven economy.

Secretary Evans spent three days in Ireland to participate in the U.S.-EU Summit and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) to discuss ways to increase investment and create a barrier-free transatlantic market to help grow American jobs.

“Developing economies around the world show great promise for American businesses and workers, but our economic relationships will only grow if we all agree to play by the same rules,” said Evans. “Strict enforcement of our trade policies will strengthen our trade relationships, promote free enterprise and spur job creation.”

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