In Korea Gutierrez will give a major address on U.S.-Korean bilateral trade ties. In China, Gutierrez is expected to witness U.S. companies in signing deals to expand their access within China, and then will join his Cabinet colleagues in the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) led by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson.

"Asia is a paramount region for U.S. trade. Korea and China account for more than $60 billion in U.S. exports which have grown nearly 28 percent in the last year. Korea and China are huge export markets for us, and there’s plenty of room to grow. I’m looking forward to discussing with Korean and Chinese officials how we can expand U.S. exports and level the playing field," said Gutierrez.

Korea

Gutierrez will begin his six-day visit to Asia in Seoul, Korea, Dec. 11-13, and meet with senior Korean government officials. Gutierrez will deliver a major speech on U.S.-Korean bilateral trade ties and will highlight specific areas to address as negotiations in the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement continue. Gutierrez will participate in a clean energy technology event with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman highlighting the tremendous progress made by Seoul city buses using U.S. products to eliminate pollution and promote high efficiency natural gas vehicles. This clean energy technology application supports the goals and objectives of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and can serve as a model for other countries in the region.

"The United States and Korea do a great deal of trade with one another, and a good FTA deal will only expand our mutual opportunities. It’s no secret, we need to see much better market access if we’re going to complete a deal. U.S. tariffs on Korean goods are low while American exporters face high tariffs and other barriers on cars, farm goods and other items, so an FTA will really level the playing field for U.S. exporters," said Secretary Gutierrez. "This week’s FTA negotiations continue in Montana, and I hope progress is made. We have a narrow window of time and it is in both countries interests to seize this opportunity."

The Republic of Korea is the world’s eleventh-largest economy, generating nearly $1 trillion and importing $248 billion worth of goods every year. It is the Unites States’ seventh-largest trading partner and seventh-largest export market. Trade between the two countries in 2005 valued at approximately $72 billion.

China

Gutierrez will conclude his travels to Asia in Beijing, China, Dec. 13-15. He will join Treasury Secretary Paulson for the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-China SED. Presidents Bush and Hu launched the dialogue in September 2006 as an overarching forum for discussing ways the U.S. and China can work together to ensure that citizens in both countries benefit fairly from the growing bilateral economic relationship.

"I'm looking forward to returning to China next week with my Cabinet colleagues to participate in the new U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue led by Secretary Paulson. China is one of America’s fastest-growing export markets representing billions of dollars for U.S. companies," said Gutierrez. "It is important that the gains from China’s integration in the world trading system are shared by both countries, which includes expanding market access for U.S. goods and services as well as improving enforcement of intellectual property rights. The future should be focused on exporting more not importing less."

In mid-November Gutierrez led a business delegation of 25 U.S. companies and met with senior Chinese government officials including Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing and called for China to further open its markets to U.S. companies, and protect IPR.

China is the United States’ fastest-growing major export market, surging 35 percent this year. Total U.S. exports to China in 2005 were $41 billion, an increase of 19 percent over 2004.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, Dec 8-9, Secretary Gutierrez will join Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle in signing an MOA between the Commerce Department, Interior Department and State of Hawaii on managing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, the largest single area dedicated to conservation in U.S. history and the largest protected marine area in the world. On Oahu, Gutierrez will tour the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the future site of the Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Regional Center on Ford Island, as well as a NOAA ship involved in debris removal in the new Monument area. On Maui, he will tour a humpback whale sanctuary managed by NOAA. On the island of Hawaii, he will visit aquaculture facilities focused on raising shrimp, clams and finfish, which is a key growth industry for Hawaii and is an important part of expanding American fisheries resources. Joining Secretary Gutierrez will be Vice-Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Under Secretary for NOAA at the Department of Commerce.

"By creating such a huge new monument to marine conservation, President Bush has created a lasting and protected treasure for the people of Hawaii, the United States and the world and I am excited to be implementing President Bush’s vision for marine conservation and environmental stewardship," said Gutierrez. "NOAA plays a key role in protecting America’s marine treasures in the great state of Hawaii, and protecting people throughout the Pacific with its Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and I’m very interested in seeing and hearing from NOAA experts on all their work."

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