[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H13304-H13305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PASS THE U.S.-PERU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

  (Mr. WELLER of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, you know, trade and exports 
are important in States like Illinois, and particularly the district 
that I represent.
  In Illinois, 17,000 businesses depend on exports for their survival. 
Forty percent of the corn soybeans and pork and beef and other 
livestock products are exported. One out of five manufacturing jobs is 
dependent on exports.
  We have an opportunity today to expand trade. The 14 trade agreements 
this Congress has adopted in the last 12 years have created 16 million 
new jobs.
  Today, we have before us the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement. What's 
nice about this agreement is it makes trade a two-way street. Right 
now, Peruvian products enter the United States duty free. Manufactured 
goods, agricultural products from Peru enter the United States without 
tariffs or duties, but it's not reciprocal. Caterpillar, for example, 
our biggest manufacturer in Illinois, their products face a 12 percent 
tariff.
  What's good about the agreement we're going to vote for today is 80 
percent of the tariffs on manufactured goods are gone on day one for 
U.S. products exported to Peru under this trade agreement.
  It is good for Illinois workers, it's good for Illinois 
manufacturers, and I also note for Illinois farmers. Right now, they're 
at a disadvantage. It gives them the opportunity to be competitive. 
Let's have a bipartisan vote for U.S.-Peru.

[[Page H13305]]



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