[House Document 112-60]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




112th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-60

  LEGISLATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNITED STATES-
                       KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

                               ----------                              

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES

                              transmitting

   CONSISTENT WITH THE TRADE ACT OF 2002, LEGISLATION AND SUPPORTING 
  DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNITED STATES-KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT






   October 4, 2011.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
         Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.



112th Congress, 1st Session  - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-60
 
  LEGISLATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNITED STATES-
                       KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

   CONSISTENT WITH THE TRADE ACT OF 2002, LEGISLATION AND SUPPORTING 
  DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNITED STATES-KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT






   October 4, 2011.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
         Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

70-546                          WASHINGTON : 2011


To the Congress to the United States:
    I am pleased to transmit legislation and supporting 
documents to implement the United States-Korea Free Trade 
Agreement (Agreement), a landmark agreement that supports 
American jobs, advances U.S. interests, and reflects America's 
fundamental values.
    The Agreement levels the playing field for U.S. businesses, 
workers, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, investors, and 
service providers by offering them unprecedented access to 
Korea's nearly $1 trillion economy. The Agreement eliminates 
tariffs on over 95 percent of U.S. exports of industrial and 
consumer goods to Korea within the first 5 years and, together 
with the agreement entered into through an exchange of letters 
in February 2011, addresses key outstanding concerns of 
American automakers and workers regarding the lack of a level 
playing field in Korea's auto market. The Agreement also 
ensures that almost two-thirds of current U.S. agricultural 
exports will enter Korea duty-free immediately. In addition, 
the Agreement will give American service providers much greater 
access to Korea's $580 billion services market.
    The Agreement contains state of the art provisions to help 
protect and enforce intellectual property rights, reduce 
regulatory red tape, and eliminate regulatory barriers to U.S. 
exports. The Agreement also contains the highest standards for 
protecting labor rights, carrying out covered environmental 
agreements, and ensuring that key domestic labor and 
environmental laws are enforced, combined with strong remedies 
for noncompliance.
    Increased U.S. exports expected under the Agreement will 
support more than 70,000 American jobs. The Agreement will 
bolster our economic competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region 
and our regional security interests. The United States once was 
the top supplier of goods exported to Korea. Over the past 
decade, our share of Korea's import market for goods has fallen 
from 21 percent to just 10 percent--behind China and Japan, and 
barely ahead of the European Union (EU). The EU and several 
other trading partners are negotiating or have recently 
concluded trade agreements with Korea. If the United States-
Korea trade agreement is not approved, the United States could 
lose further market share, export-supported jobs, and economic 
growth opportunities, with damage to our leadership position in 
the region.
    As a part of an ambitious trade agenda, it is important 
that the Congress renew a strong and robust Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Program consistent with reforms enacted in 2009. 
Renewal of that program is necessary to support Americans who 
need training and other services when their jobs are adversely 
affected by trade. As we expand access to other markets abroad, 
we need to ensure that American workers are provided the tools 
needed to take advantage of these opportunities and are not 
left behind in the global economy.
    Approving and implementing the Agreement is an opportunity 
to shape history. We must seize the moment together to support 
jobs for the American people today and to sustain U.S. 
leadership well into the 21st century. I urge the Congress to 
enact this legislation promptly.

                                                      Barack Obama.

    The White House, October 3, 2011.






