Gerard Appointed by President Obama to Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations

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Sep 16, 2010, 06:33 ET

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard today said he is pleased to accept an appointment by President Barack Obama to the President's Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations.

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"International trade and how it is conducted is of vital importance to the future of the United States and the members of the union I am so privileged to represent,'' Gerard said.

"I am grateful to President Obama for the confidence he has shown in me, and I pledge to work closely with the Administration to help resolve some of the issues we face in maintaining a fair trading system among nations."

The committee is part of a private sector advisory system established by Congress in 1974 to ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiating-objectives adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. It is made up of members who broadly represent key sectors and groups of the economy.

Gerard is a member of the AFL-CIO's Executive Committee and chairs the labor federation's Public Policy Committee. He is also co-chairman of the BlueGreen Alliance and a board member of the Apollo Alliance, Campaign for America's Future and the Economic Policy Institute. He is a member of the IMF and ICEM global labor federations and was instrumental in creating Workers Uniting, the first global union.

The president appointed Gerard and several other influential leaders to the committee on Sept. 15, 2010. He is expected to announce additional members to the committee at a later date.

Contact: Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)