Marathon Pundit: Dems on the Colombia & Panama FTAs: ‘A sure way to create jobs’

Monday, March 14, 2011

Dems on the Colombia & Panama FTAs: ‘A sure way to create jobs’

One Panama/Colombia free trade post deserves another...

Once again, from the Senate Republican Communincations Center:

Dems On The Colombia & Panama FTAs: ‘A Sure Way To Create Jobs’

‘The Time Is Here, The Time Is Now,’ ‘We Need To Bring All Three Pending Agreements To A Conclusion’

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “The Time Is Here. The Time Is Now. In Fact, The Time Has Passed To Ratify The Colombia Free Trade Agreement. It's Long Passed. We're Losing Market Share Hand Over Fist… It Is Time To Quickly Resolve The Outstanding Issues On Our Pending FTAs With Colombia, Panama, And Korea, And We Must Approve All Three Agreements This Year.” (“Democrats Vs. Obama On Trade,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/14/11)

SEN. BILL NELSON (D-FL): “I Want To Add My Comments To The Chairman's Comments. I Support The Colombia Free Trade Act. … This Is Good For Our Country And It's Certainly Good For My State Because We Have A Great Deal Of Trade Both Ways With Colombia. The Same With Panama As Well.” “I want to add my comments to the Chairman's comments. I support the Colombia Free Trade Act. I've been there, I've been there in a capacity as part of the Intel Committee as well as the Armed Services Committee. I visited with then Defense Minister Santos when Colombia pulled off one of the most magnificent ruses of all time that allowed us to get three Americans out of the jungles, having been held by the FARC for a half a dozen years. And now the Defense Minister is now President. And this is good for our country and it's certainly good for my state because we have a great deal of trade both ways with Colombia. The same with Panama as well.” (U.S. Senate, Finance Committee, Hearing, 3/9/11)

SEN. TOM CARPER (D-DE): “I Support Moving Forward With Trade Agreements With Korea, Colombia And Panama … The Time To Act Is Now.” “While there are a few issues that I know are being worked out in finalizing the agreements, I support moving forward with trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama … It is estimated that the Free Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama will lead to an additional $150 million a year in export revenue for the U.S. chicken industry and will create 13,500 new jobs in the industry, resulting in an additional $11 million per year in export revenue and 1,000 new jobs in the chicken industry in Delaware. In order to sell more of our commodities overseas, like chickens, we must remove trade barriers that prevent other countries from buying our goods. Tariffs like those that American businesses are faced with in Korea, which average 54 percent, have hindered our companies from gaining access to important markets overseas. Colombia is advancing in its trade relations with Canada and China, giving greater access to their goods each day that we wait. The time to act is now, and while there is still a bit more work that needs to be done, I am confident that we can work together here in Congress and with the Administration to advance these three trade agreements.” Sen. Carper, “Finance Hearing Statement: ‘The President’s 2011 Trade Agenda,’” 3/9/11)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (ID-CT): “Increasing Our Nation's Exports Is A Sure Way To Create Jobs, Strengthen Our Domestic Manufacturing Base, And Accelerate Our Economic Recovery … Passing these trade agreements and extending Trade Promotion Authority is also inseparable from America's national security.” (Sen. Lieberman, Press Release, 1/25/11)

· “Today, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), A Former United States Trade Representative, And Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Introduced The Creating American Jobs Through Exports Act Of 2011. The Legislation Would Express Congress' Support For Passing The Pending Trade Agreements With South Korea, Colombia And Panama. The Creating American Jobs Through Exports Act would also reinstate the Obama Administration's trade negotiating authority. Both parts of the legislation are critical actions necessary to increase exports, create a more job-friendly environment for American job creators, and advance America's national security interests.” (Sen. Lieberman, Press Release, 1/25/11)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): “To Reclaim Our Leadership Role In The World On Trade, We Need To Bring All Three Pending Agreements To A Conclusion By The End Of This Year…” (Sen. Kerry, Press Release, 3/9/11)

SEN. MARK UDALL (D-CO): “I Would Welcome The Opportunity To Look At The Three Outstanding Trade Agreements - [South] Korea, Panama And Colombia. … Let Us At Least Bring Them To The Floor Of The Senate.” “One of the ways we are going to grow our way out of the economic recession we have been in is to have fair but open trade agreements. And I would welcome the opportunity to look at the three outstanding trade agreements - [South] Korea, Panama and Colombia. I have not made a determination whether I would vote for them or not. But let us at least bring them to the floor of the Senate.” (Sen. Udall, Voice of America News, 2/9/11)