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Rubio Statement On WTO Trade Agreement

Dec 7, 2013 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the agreement at the World Trade Organization’s trade negotiations in Bali:

“The successful WTO negotiations in Bali mark an important first step towards reducing global trade barriers in the 21st century. American entrepreneurs and workers can compete with anyone on a level economic playing field. Expanding free and fair trade is a national imperative that will create job opportunities for our own people and help others around the world rely less on foreign assistance and benefit more from the free enterprise system.

“While this successful global trade deal is a step in the right direction, we should also continue pursuing regional and bilateral trade agreements – such as the TPP with Asia and Latin America and the TTIP with Europe – that hold enormous economic promise and where overcoming some of the tougher trade obstacles are more realistic in the shorter term.

“While overall the WTO agreement is welcome news, I am concerned that U.S. officials reportedly met with Cuban representatives in Bali to discuss the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba. There should be no question that the U.S. will not end the trade embargo until the Castro regime releases its political prisoners and holds free and fair elections.”