NBR Hosts USTR and ASEAN Trade Ministers

On May 3, 2010, NBR’s Slade Gorton Policy Center hosted a breakfast and roundtable discussion for U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk, former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, and several ASEAN trade ministers including Dr. Mari Pangestu of Indonesia, Mr. Mustapa Mohamed of Malaysia, Mr. Lim Jock Seng of Brunei, and Dr. Nam Viyaketh of Laos, as well as Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, United States Representatives Jim McDermott, Rick Larsen, and Dave Reichert, and Alexander Feldman of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.

The ASEAN delegation came to Seattle as part of their two-city tour and “road show” to give American business and civic leaders the opportunity to meet ASEAN trade ministers first-hand, explore opportunities in the ASEAN region, and discuss trade and investment opportunities between the U.S. and ASEAN countries, as well as ASEAN’s efforts at regional economic integration.

This two-day event, “ASEAN: The Crossroads of Global Trade and Investment,” was presented by the US-ASEAN Business Council and USTR, in partnership with NBR and the Trade Development Alliance (TDA), and held at the Four Seasons in Seattle.