"Together with my colleagues in the House and the Senate, I've been working to find a path forward for these job-producing agreements with our allies in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea for the last five years. Today we have that path forward," said Blunt in a release. "I'm pleased that so many of my Senate colleagues have recognized the importance of this moment and joined us in this effort to demonstrate our commitment to working together to get all three deals passed as soon as possible."
"Our country is in a fiscal crisis and export promotion is one of the few budget-neutral tools available to help spur job growth," said Portman. "That's why advancing job creating agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama that expand exports is so urgent and timely. If we aren't moving forward in the global economy, we're falling behind. It's time for the President to submit these agreements. We can pass TAA and these export agreements in separate votes, and we can get them passed now."
U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue praised the senators, saying they showed "real leadership on trade and a genuine commitment to the creation of American jobs. With our economic recovery stalling, we need to move now on these job-creating trade agreements. In addition, the compromise on TAA is respectful of the difficult fiscal circumstances facing our country, and we believe it deserves support."
"By taking a timeout on trade, we're creating jobs - in other countries," said Donohue, noting the European Union-Korea Free Trade Agreement entered into force on July 1 and the Canada-Colombia FTA will do so on August 15. "While other nations clinch their own trade deals, American workers are left to compete with one hand tied behind their backs. According to press reports, European exports to Korea rose 16% in the first 13 days after the Korea-EU FTA entered into force, with a 17% increase in the opposite direction. Four-fifths of Korean tariffs on European imports have already been eliminated. A U.S. Chamber study has warned that delays on the pending trade agreements have put 380,000 American jobs at risk.
