The Office of the United States Trade Representative

Kay Wilkie to Chair Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee
02/17/2004

WASHINGTON - United States Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick announced
today that Kay Wilkie of the New York State Department of Economic Development has been appointed to chair the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee (IGPAC), a statutory advisory committee that provides advice to the USTR on trade agreements from the perspective of state and local governments. IGPAC is comprised of representatives from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state, county and municipal governments, as well as associations of state and local officials.

"Kay Wilkie has an impressive depth of experience and first-hand knowledge regarding the importance of trade for promoting growth, job opportunities, and rising standards of living in her state, " Zoellick stated. "She will help the IGPAC provide the type of timely input that we seek from states and localities in negotiating trade agreements that will benefit America."

Wilkie, who has served on IGPAC since 2003, is a public official responsible for New York’s international trade and investment efforts. Kay has extensive expertise in trade policy and export promotion. She has served in leadership positions for the Council of State Governments and the State International Development Organization, as well as the Export Trade Advisory Council of the Appalachian Regional Commission, which develops export plans for rural small businesses. Wilkie has also served as USTR’s State Point of Contact for New York, designated by the Governor’s office to coordinate input on trade matters for the state to USTR and disseminate pertinent information received from USTR. She was also active in USTR consultations with the State of New York during the Uruguay Round and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations.

Background

USTR consults with states and localities on trade matters of interest, and has several formal and informal mechanisms for federal-state cooperation and consultation on trade policy. The IGPAC, part of USTR’s statutory advisory committee system, is the committee charged with providing trade advice from the perspective of states and localities. Under the Uruguay Round and NAFTA implementing legislation, USTR also created the single State Point of Contact (SPOC) system, whereby the Governor’s office in each state designates a single contact to coordinate state trade policy input to the USTR. SPOCs regularly receive Federal Register Notices, press releases, notifications and requests for advice on specific matters and are invited to participate in briefings and meetings. Additionally, USTR officials frequently meet with gatherings of state and local representatives around the country at their annual meetings and conferences.