US Congress Prepares to Vote on Three Free Trade Pacts
Both houses of the U.S. Congress are expected to approve free trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. The accords were negotiated during the former Bush administration, and had been shelved by the Obama administration until Congress extended assistance programs for U.S. workers affected by foreign competition. Backers say the trade deals will boost U.S. exports by $13 billion a year, while opponents say they will undercut U.S. workers and undermine America’s ability to press for international human rights.
With the U.S. economy stalling and unemployment stuck above nine percent, many lawmakers see expanded trade as a sorely-needed lifeline. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus:
“The Colombia, Panama, and South Korea trade agreements will create tens of thousands of American jobs," said Baucus. "They will give our ranchers, farmers, workers and businesses a competitive edge in three lucrative, fast-growing markets.”
The deals are long overdue, according to Republican Senator Orrin Hatch.
“Approval of these three free trade agreements will enable US exporters to finally take advantage of the benefits of these agreements that our negotiators secured over four years ago," said Hatch.
The Obama administration pressed South Korea to open its market to U.S. vehicles, pressed Panama to strengthen lax financial regulations, and pressed Colombia to protect labor leaders. Even so, many U.S. labor groups continue to oppose the pacts, as do human rights activists who interrupted the Finance Committee hearing.
Echoing specific concerns about Colombia was Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow.
“Last year 51 labor leaders were assassinated," said Stabenow. "So far this year 23 leaders have been assassinated. And I believe it is not just a human rights issue, which of course is very important. It is an issue that affects American workers, because they are undercut when the wages of Colombian workers are kept artificially low due to the denial of basic worker rights.”
But the benefits of expanded trade outweigh potential pitfalls, according to Democratic Senator John Kerry.
“These agreements are fairly one-sided in our favor," said Kerry. "They actually open up markets that are closed to us and equal a playing field that has been unequal against us for a long period of time.”
With South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visiting Washington, congressional leaders of both parties pressed for passage of the trade pacts before the leader’s address to a joint session of Congress Thursday. |