MIDLAND -- CEO's from both Dow Corning and Dow Chemical have been appointed by President Obama to the President’s Export Council.
Dow Corning Chairman, President and CEO Dr. Stephanie A. Burns has been appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to the President’s Export Council, a public/private sector advisory committee that advises the President on international trade.
The Council will advise the President on policies and initiatives to improve U.S. trade performance; promote expanded exports; and address trade-related challenges among the business, industrial, agricultural, labor, and government communities.
“I am proud that Dow Corning is viewed by government officials and the business community as an innovative leader in global business,” said Dr. Burns, whose term lasts until November 2011. “Collaborating with this diverse, experienced and respected group of individuals will be an honor, but more importantly, will help guide the United States for sustainable economic strength.”
The PEC, which reports to the Department of Commerce, will play a key role in the President’s plan to double U.S. exports over the next five years. The Council will be chaired by James McNerney, CEO of the Boeing Corporation. Ursula Burns, CEO of the Xerox Corporation, will serve as vice chair.
“To build on the progress we’ve made so far, I’ve appointed these accomplished men and women to serve in these important roles,” said President Barack Obama at a reception at the White House Rose Garden where he announced the council members. “I am confident that their depth of experience in the private sector will be valuable as we continue working to open new markets for American goods, boost our exports and level the playing field for American workers.”
“This challenging economic environment only heigtens the importance of some of the trade challenges and opportunities we have in the U.S.,” said Burns.
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The following is a message from The Dow Chemical Company:
The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced that Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has been appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Export Council.
Liveris joins labor leaders, congressional representatives and CEOs from other top U.S. companies in advising the Obama Administration on how to achieve its goal of doubling exports in the next five years, which in turn promises to create millions of new jobs and spur U.S. economic growth.
"I am honored to have been selected to serve on the Export Council, and applaud the President's vision for driving a resurgence in U.S. exports. As we all know, growing exports is good for American manufacturers, and good for the U.S. economy," said Liveris. “Just as our predecessors ushered in a new wave of prosperity with the U.S. industrial revolution more than a century ago, we now have the opportunity to fuel a new era of sustainable economic growth for America. By creating pragmatic and purposeful trade policies, we will ensure we deploy the vast resources of this nation towards advanced manufacturing programs in high-growth sectors that will make America more competitive at a global level."
Addressing trade policy is just one element of Dow's Advanced Manufacturing Plan for America (AMP). AMP calls for action on a number of fronts to lower structural costs that are suffocating U.S. manufacturing, and to establish a broad policy framework that will enable economic growth, while at the same time considering a multitude of issues ranging from tax reform to climate change to education.
"Trade policy is key to re-establishing America's leadership in the global economy, especially the manufacturing sector,” said Liveris. “A progressive set of trade policy initiatives will facilitate market access to key emerging economies by creating a level playing field; ensuring trade partners are committed to the multilateral-rules based trading system; and establishing transparent and fair mechanisms for dispute resolution.
Liveris' 34-year Dow career has spanned manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing, and business and general management. He has spent the bulk of his career in Asia, where he was general manager for the Company's operations in Thailand, and later served as President of Dow’s entire Asia-Pacific operations. He began his Dow career in 1976 in Australia.
He has been a member of Dow's Board of Directors since February 2004, CEO since November 2004 and was elected as Chairman of the Board effective April 1, 2006.
Liveris serves on the board of directors of IBM and Citigroup. He is chairman of the board of the US-China Business Council and the Société de Chimie Industrielle; a vice-chair of the US Business Council and the Business Roundtable; and a past chairman of the American Chemistry Council, the International Council of Chemical Associations, and SCI America. Liveris is also a member of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the American Australian Association, and the Detroit Economic Club, as well as a trustee of Tufts University
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Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today made the following statement regarding the appointments of Alan Mulally of Ford Motor Company, Stephanie Burns of Dow Corning Company, and Andrew Liveris of Dow Chemical to President Obama’s Export Council. This council is the principal private sector advisory committee to the Administration.
“I applaud President Obama’s appointment of Alan Mulally, Stephanie Burns, and Andrew Liveris to his Export Council. I am pleased to serve as a member of the council, and I look forward to working with these Michigan business leaders to strengthen American manufacturing and international trade. The expertise and insight Mr. Mulally, Ms. Burns, and Mr. Liveris bring to the table will help us create trade policies that will protect American jobs and products while holding countries like China accountable for unfair trade policies. Together, the President, all of the new appointees, and I will work to develop a clear manufacturing and export strategy that ensures our workers are making things here and our companies can successfully export abroad.”