Obama Says His Asia-Pacific Trip Will Boost U.S. Employment

[Turborama]

Source: Bloomberg

By Margaret Talev | Nov. 19

-- President Barack Obama said the Asia-Pacific trip he wrapped up yesterday in Bali will help expand foreign markets and boost U.S. job creation. The U.S. is on track to double exports by 2014, he said.

“As the fastest-growing region in the world, no market is more important to our economic future than the Asia Pacific, a region where our exports already support 5 million American jobs,” Obama said from Indonesia, where he recorded his weekly radio and Internet address yesterday before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington.

Obama highlighted the announcement, at an Asian leaders’ summit in Indonesia, of trade deals he said could support nearly 130,000 U.S. jobs. These include a plan for Boeing Co. to sell planes to Indonesia. He said the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit he hosted Nov. 12-13 in Honolulu will “make it easier for American companies to do business overseas.”

“We can compete against anybody, and we can win,” Obama said. “As president, I intend to make sure that happens by doing everything I can to give American workers and businesses the chance to succeed.”

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-19/obama-says-his-asia-pacific-trip-will-boost-u-s-employment.html

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Video of the full weekly address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oMI_ZScflU

Transcript:

For Immediate Release November 19, 2011

WEEKLY ADDRESS: Creating an Economy Built to Last

WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama spoke from Indonesia and told the American people that during his trip to the Asia Pacific, he has made progress opening up markets to support thousands of American jobs and keep us on track to double American exports by 2014. The President’s trip underscores his belief that our businesses will always be successful competing around the world and that he will continue to do everything possible to create jobs for the American people.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Bali, Indonesia
Saturday, November 19, 2011

Today, I’m speaking to you from Indonesia as I finish up my trip to the Asia Pacific – the region where we do most of our trade and sell most of our exports. And over the past week, the progress we’ve made in opening markets and boosting exports here will help create more jobs and more growth in the United States.

Here in Indonesia, I was proud to join leaders from some of our nation’s top companies as they announced trade deals that will support nearly 130,000 American jobs and potentially increase U.S. exports by up to $39 billion. Boeing, for example, will sell more than 200 planes to Indonesia that are built with parts from suppliers in more than 40 states. And a deal to export GE engines will support jobs at plants in Ohio and North Carolina.

These agreements will help us reach my goal of doubling American exports by 2014 – a goal we’re on pace to meet. And they’re powerful examples of how we can rebuild an economy that’s focused on what our country has always done best – making and selling products all over the world that are stamped with three proud words: “Made In America.”

This is important, because over the last decade, we became a country that relied too much on what we bought and consumed. We racked up a lot of debt, but we didn’t create many jobs at all.

If we want an economy that’s built to last and built to compete, we have to change that. We have to restore America’s manufacturing might, which is what helped us build the largest middle-class in history. That’s why we chose to pull the auto industry back from the brink, saving hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process. And that’s why we’re investing in the next generation of high-tech, American manufacturing.

But building an economy that lasts isn’t just about making things – it’s about opening new markets for people to buy them. After all, 95% of the world’s consumers live outside our borders. And as the fastest-growing region in the world, no market is more important to our economic future than the Asia Pacific – a region where our exports already support five million American jobs.

This is why we recently signed a landmark trade agreement with South Korea that will support tens of thousands of American jobs. And it’s why I traveled here this week. In Hawaii, I hosted leaders from across the Asia Pacific, and we agreed to make it easier for American companies to do business overseas. I also worked with President Medvedev of Russia to pursue trade that would increase exports and jobs for American manufacturers and farmers. And working with other leaders, we made progress toward our most ambitious trade agreement yet – a partnership with Pacific nations that holds the potential for more exports and more jobs in a region of nearly three billion consumers.

We may be going through tough times, but as I’ve said time and time again, the United States still has the world’s most dynamic economy, the finest universities, the most innovative companies, and the hardest-working people on Earth. We can compete against anybody – and we can win. As President, I intend to make sure that happens by doing everything I can to give American workers and businesses the chance to succeed.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/19/weekly-address-creating-economy-built-last

[earthside]

1. So misguided.

I believe that in the bigger scope of history the corporate 'globalization' of economics will be seen as one of the biggest mistakes made in the modern era.

You simply cannot export basic manufacturing in favor of 'financialization' of markets and remain a vibrant, productive country.

If there is one example of Pres. Obama's 'conservatism' it is this misguided adherence to global trade.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. It's not a matter of "adhering" to something

it's a matter of dealing with the reality of the situation as it is today because dumbed down Americans keep voting in corporate representatives who will block any and ALL efforts to de-corporatize. Serial demonization of the President is counter-productive. Waking up the populace is where the energy needs to be used.

[russspeakeasy]

3. "demonization of the president is counter-productive"

so if you disagree with anything Mr. O. says, just keep it to yourself.
Remember, he is operating on a level we just don't have the I.Q. to
understand. Like not letting the bush tax cuts expire; now he has them right where he wants them...SO STFU and concentrate on how bad the alternative might be........

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[No Elephants]

9. He's operating on a level we don't understand, yet is completely

helpless in the face of the dumb Rethugs.

Never let go of the "blue team, red team" paradigm.

It's served us so very well, even after the rise of the DLC.

Stay with that, and reject the "99%, 1%," which is obviously false.

[No Elephants]

8. "Misguided" is an assumption. I'd like to think it's correct, but I am not sure.

If I go into a diner daily and my check is wrong often, it could be math errors or it could be someone trying to get more of my money than they deserve.

If the errors are about evenly divided between undercharges and overcharges, or if undercharges seem to be the majority of the errors, I'd be inclined to chalk it up to honest error.

Otherwise, I would at least suspect some cause other than good intentions, but faulty math ability.

[defendandprotect]

13. These aren't "mistakes" -- anymore than capitalism is a "mistake" ... it's purposeful theft ....

Capitalism is intended to move a nation's wealth and natural resources from the

many to the few --

and it has done that all over the world amazingly successfully!

(Especially with the protection of US troops)

And certainly, not by accident!



:evilgrin:

[Demeter]

4. He's Shopping for a New Gig ALREADY?

The polls must be worse than they're letting us know.

[No Elephants]

10. Past President seems to be an incredibly well-paying gig anymore.

Harry Truman, whom many count among the best Presidents ever, had to beg Congress for a pension; and they awared him $10 a year.

Bubba, a po' boy from Arkansas, had $110 million as of 2007.

[Donnachaidh]

5. and pigs will fly out of Joe Biden's ass first.

But of course, that covers the *need to address jobs* on this sojourn -- on to the parties! :sarcasm:

[JDPriestly]

7. I will believe it when I see it.

So far "free trade" has taken away jobs and not brought new ones.

[No Elephants]

11. Is all your past experience any reason to doubt things will change this time?

One definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior and expecting a different result. Werner Ehrhard.....est and Forum

[Name removed]

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