[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE TO THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY AND 
 THE IMPORTANCE OF PASSING FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH COLOMBIA, SOUTH 
                           KOREA, AND PANAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, the Department of Labor has 
recently announced that unemployment across the country remained at 
double-digits and many states have followed with their own bleak 
statements of jobs being eliminated and families struggling.
  These continued job losses demonstrate the need to approve and 
implement three free trade agreements--Colombia, South Korea and 
Panama--that can and will ``save and create'' high value private sector 
jobs for Americans.
  Since 2005, 64 trade pacts have taken effect across the globe. The 
U.S. is a party to only five--with Australia, Bahrain, Morocco, Oman 
and Peru. During the same time frame, Japan has signed nine and the 
European Union (EU), which already has liberalized trade practices 
among its 27 member states, has signed eight.
  And yet, pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and 
South Korea that will tear down barriers to our products languish in 
the United States Congress. Unfortunately, there has not been a debate 
in Congress on the ratification of these agreements.
  When visiting South Korea in November, the President indicated that 
the U.S. would move forward on the pending U.S.-South Korea free trade 
agreement (KORUS FTA). This is a pact, signed over two years ago, which 
will virtually eliminate remaining tariffs between our two economies. 
It also takes aim at non-tariff barriers such a Seoul's burdensome 
safety standards that many U.S. businesses have been unable to meet 
and, thus, gain access to the growing Korean market.
  As the U.S. stalls, the EU is moving to fill the void. It is actively 
negotiating with South Korea, using many of the same principles and 
goals that our trade officials used years ago. In fact, there are 
credible estimates that the U.S. will lose 345,000 jobs if it fails to 
implement the KORUS FTA!
  Likewise, it has been nearly 1,100 days since President Bush sent a 
final U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement to Congress for 
implementation. In the meantime, the Canadians have completed their own 
deal with Colombia which will ultimately disadvantage our manufacturers 
and our farmers.
  So, as Congress places us firmly on the sidelines, Canada, the EU, 
China and other commercial competitors are taking the field and our 
business.
  This is not some dry, theoretical debate for my home state of New 
Jersey. Our businesses, large and small, and their workers, have a 
great deal riding on these agreements and others yet to be reached. 
They will create jobs here in America, in general, and in New Jersey, 
specifically.
  For example, the Port of New Jersey and New York is a major 
international gateway for our region. Today, $80 billion in commerce 
flows through the Port each year. Total exports from New Jersey have 
increased by $8.1 billion over the past five years.
  In fact, the latest data has shown that 130,500 jobs in New Jersey 
depend on trade. Of these, 50,500 are manufacturing jobs. Indeed, 
approximately one of every six manufacturing jobs in New Jersey is 
directly connected to trade. In addition, small businesses, America's 
job creators, would be among the major beneficiaries of U.S. 
initiatives to reduce foreign barriers to our exports.
  Understandably, there is a high level of job-related anxiety in 
America today. This apprehension is fueling the rise of protectionism. 
The President and the Congressional leadership apparently now believe 
that defeating or delaying these trade agreements will somehow shield 
American jobs. To the contrary, discarding these pending trade 
agreements will deny American businesses the opportunity to create or 
grow high quality private sector jobs here at home and cede these 
markets to our allies and adversaries!
  Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that Beijing, Ottawa, Tokyo and our 
EU friends understand the importance of trade. Our economy and, most 
importantly, our workers, are paying an incredibly high price for 
enacting these trade agreements. I urge the adoption of this resolution 
and the immediate ratification of the Colombia, Panama and South Korean 
free trade agreements.

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