[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 31485-31486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11926]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 18, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 31485]]


                Proclamation 9449 of May 13, 2016

                
World Trade Week, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The United States of America cannot afford to sit on 
                the sidelines of the global economy. With over 95 
                percent of our Nation's potential customers living 
                outside our borders, trade agreements are a vital part 
                of our agenda for creating jobs and growing our 
                economy--and smart trade agreements that level the 
                playing field for American workers and businesses are a 
                vital piece of middle-class economics. During World 
                Trade Week, we reaffirm the importance of global trade, 
                and we redouble our efforts to pursue trade deals that 
                reflect American values and give our people a fair shot 
                at success.

                America's small businesses employ more than half of all 
                Americans, and they represent 98 percent of our 
                Nation's exporters. I am committed to a trade agenda 
                that includes strong, enforceable provisions in our 
                agreements that help our businesses--large and small--
                support higher-paying jobs and ship products stamped 
                ``Made in the USA'' around the world. My Administration 
                has ramped up enforcement of our trade laws like never 
                before. Last year, I renewed and expanded the Trade 
                Adjustment Assistance program, providing job training 
                and other assistance to American workers. And earlier 
                this year, I signed bipartisan legislation that helps 
                us enforce our trade agreements--helping ensure that 
                other countries play by the rules.

                Some of our greatest economic opportunities abroad are 
                in the Asia-Pacific region. For more than 5 years, the 
                United States negotiated a new, forward-looking trade 
                deal that puts workers first and ensures we write the 
                rules of the road for trade in the 21st century. The 
                Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) brings 12 countries 
                representing nearly 40 percent of the global economy 
                together to trade and invest in the Asia-Pacific--one 
                of the world's fastest growing regions. The TPP 
                includes fully enforceable provisions that ensure a 
                free and open Internet, respect intellectual property 
                rights, protect the environment, and uphold worker 
                rights. It eliminates more than 18,000 taxes imposed by 
                other countries on American products, and it bolsters 
                our leadership abroad while supporting good jobs here 
                at home. The United States signed TPP this year, and I 
                will continue working with the Congress to enact it as 
                soon as possible.

                The largest trade and investment relationship in the 
                world is between the United States and the European 
                Union--yet too many barriers remain in the way of even 
                greater trade and investment between us. That is why, 
                together, we have moved forward with the Trans-Atlantic 
                Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), which will 
                eliminate tariffs, simplify procedures, bridge 
                differences in regulations, and cut red tape. T-TIP 
                also enforces strong standards, and it will reinforce 
                our larger trans-Atlantic relationship--the foundation 
                of our prosperity and security since World War II.

                Our global economy's growth is fueled by trade. While 
                understandable skepticism exists about trade, 
                particularly in places that have been hit hard by trade 
                deals of the past, we cannot ignore the realities of 
                the new economy. Rather, we must set the highest 
                standards for our trade agreements, enforce the 
                commitments and obligations of our trading partners, 
                and help write the rules of the road for trade in the 
                21st-century global economy, as we have done with TPP 
                and will do through T-TIP. And we must continue

[[Page 31486]]

                to harness the dynamism and entrepreneurship inherent 
                to who we are as a people and enable Americans to sell 
                the best products and ideas in the world to every 
                corner of the world. This week, let us renew our 
                commitment to that mission and work together toward a 
                future of greater opportunity for all.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 
                21, 2016, as World Trade Week. I encourage all 
                Americans to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Trade and to 
                observe this week with events, trade shows, and 
                educational programs that celebrate and inform 
                Americans about the benefits of trade to our Nation and 
                the global economy.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-11926
Filed 5-17-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P