[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1124 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1124

 Supporting President Obama and his agenda to strengthen United States 
trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea, Panama, 
                             and Colombia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 26, 2010

  Mr. Mack (for himself and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting President Obama and his agenda to strengthen United States 
trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea, Panama, 
                             and Colombia.

Whereas, on November 22, 2006, the United States and Colombia signed the United 
        States-Colombia Free Trade Agreement;
Whereas, on June 28, 2007, the United States and Panama signed the United 
        States-Panama Free Trade Agreement;
Whereas, on June 30, 2007, the United States and South Korea signed the United 
        States-Korea Free Trade Agreement;
Whereas during the State of the Union on January 27, 2010, President Obama 
        declared that the ``more products we make and sell to other countries, 
        the more jobs we support right here in America.'';
Whereas the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has concluded 
        that the United States-Panama Free Trade Agreement would significantly 
        increase United States exports to Panama;
Whereas 88 percent of United States commercial and industrial exports to Panama 
        would become duty-free upon implementation of the United States-Panama 
        Free Trade Agreement, and approximately 50 percent of United States farm 
        exports to Panama would achieve immediate duty-free status;
Whereas the USITC has concluded that a free trade agreement with Colombia would 
        significantly increase market access for United States goods and 
        services in Colombia;
Whereas currently more than 90 percent of Colombian exports to the United States 
        enter duty-free, while United States exports to Colombia face duties of 
        up to 20 percent;
Whereas the United States-Colombia Free Trade Agreement would immediately 
        eliminate duties on 80 percent of United States exports of consumer and 
        industrial products to Colombia;
Whereas the USITC has concluded that United States gross domestic product would 
        increase by $10 billion to $12 billion annually once the United States-
        Korea Free Trade Agreement is fully implemented;
Whereas under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, almost 95 percent of 
        trade in consumer and industrial products would become duty-free within 
        3 years, with most remaining tariffs eliminated within 10 years;
Whereas during the State of the Union, President Obama also said that ``[w]e 
        have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are. If 
        America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we 
        will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores.'';
Whereas Colombia has concluded free trade agreements with Canada and countries 
        throughout Latin America and is currently negotiating a free trade 
        agreement with the European Union;
Whereas Panama has negotiated free trade agreements with Canada, Singapore, 
        Taiwan, Chile, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, 
        Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras;
Whereas, on October 15, 2009, the European Union and South Korea signed the 
        world's biggest free trade agreement since 1994;
Whereas United States competitors continue to expand their presence in regions 
        where the United States has traditionally been the principal trade 
        partner, as exemplified by the tenfold increase in China's trade with 
        Latin America from 2000 to 2007, which reached $142 billion in 2008; and
Whereas during his State of the Union, President Obama declared that ``we will 
        strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South 
        Korea and Panama and Colombia.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly supports President Obama and his agenda to 
        strengthen United States trade relations in Asia and with key 
        partners like South Korea, Panama, and Colombia;
            (2) remains concerned that the United States risks losing 
        markets in Colombia, Panama, and South Korea to its competitors 
        due to its inaction as these and other countries continue to 
        move forward with their respective free trade agreements; and
            (3) calls on President Obama to submit to Congress the 
        trade agreements the United States has signed with Colombia, 
        Panama, and South Korea and work to ensure that they secure 
        passage as quickly as possible.
                                 <all>