Sixty-seven Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have told President Barack Obama they want to work with him to approve long-delayed trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
In a letter to the president, the legislators Tuesday said they believe that expanding trade will increase economic growth and create jobs in the United States. They said the three pending agreements have languished while America’s partners have pursued negotiations that exclude the U.S. and put American workers at a competitive disadvantage. Their letter said the economy and job market cannot afford anything less than swift and decisive action.
It was made public on the website of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Last month, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told the committee the president planned to send the U.S.-South Korea free trade deal to Congress in the coming weeks, but that “serious issues” were holding up the deals with Colombia and Panama.
Ambassador Kirk offered no timetable for submitting the Colombia and Panama deals, which were negotiated during the previous administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. Kirk said the U.S. will work to address outstanding concerns relating to those agreements.
The trade deal with Panama has been delayed by U.S. concerns about that country’s tax and labor laws. Some Democrats have opposed the Colombia agreement because of the nation’s often-criticized record on human rights and labor union activity. Kirk said President Obama has directed him to intensify engagement with those countries to resolve the issues.
Colombia’s government insists it has made great strides in human rights and labor protections.
Kirk also said the recently-concluded U.S.-South Korea trade agreement is better for America’s auto industry and auto workers. The pact is expected to receive strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. It was held up on grounds that the Asian nation had not done enough to open up key markets, especially in automobiles.
House Speaker John Boehner has said Republicans are ready to vote on the three pending accords. A spokesman for Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently told VOA that votes will be scheduled in the Senate once the Obama administration presents the trade pacts to Congress.
The United States signed the agreement with Colombia in 2006. The deals with Panama and South Korea were signed the following year.
