Ambassador Kirk Traveled to New Jersey to Meet with Faculty and Students at Rutgers University

On Wednesday, Ambassador Ron Kirk traveled to New Brunswick, New Jersey where he discussed the American Jobs Act and U.S. trade with Africa. At Rutgers University, Ambassador Kirk met with the President of the University, Richard McCormick, Congressman Donald Payne, and other senior university officials before delivering remarks at a luncheon attended by students and faculty of the university as well as guests from the community, including Representative Payne. In his remarks, Ambassador Kirk highlighted the need for Congress to pass parts of the American Jobs Act which will work to keep teachers in the classroom, police officers and firefighters on the streets, and construction workers on the job.

Ambassador Kirk speaks to the Rutgers University community

Ambassador Kirk also spoke about USTR’s Africa trade policy. He touched on issues ranging from the success of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to the implementation of new conflict mineral disclosure rules from the July 2010 Dodd-Frank Consumer Protection and Wall Street Reform Act.

After the luncheon, Ambassador Kirk met with students from the Rutgers’ Center for African Studies and the business school. During this meeting, he spoke about USTR’s Africa trade policy. Ambassador Kirk then took questions from the students on a variety of issues.

Ambassador Kirk speaks to Rutgers University students

Today, Ambassador Kirk travels to New York, New York to host a White House Business Council roundtable discussion.