[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 152 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  OPPOSITION TO THE KOREA, PANAMA, AND COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 12, 2011

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into 
the Record a letter from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 
opposition to the Korea, Panama, and Colombia Free Trade Agreements.

                                         International Brotherhood


                                                 of Teamsters,

                                    Washington, DC, June 15, 2011.
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the 1.4 million men and 
     women of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I am 
     writing to urge you to oppose the three pending so-called 
     free trade agreements (FTAs)--South Korea, Colombia, and 
     Panama--when they reach the floor of the House for a vote. 
     All three agreements are modeled after the job-killing North 
     American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
       Trade agreements based on the NAFTA model have resulted in 
     nearly two million job losses in the U.S. The three pending 
     FTAs continue this trend. With the unemployment rate at a 
     record high of more than nine percent, we must focus on job 
     creation and growth in the U.S. Not only will these trade 
     agreements result in job losses, they will further exploit 
     workers and deny basic human rights.
       The South Korea FTA is projected by the Economic Policy 
     Institute to cause job losses of 159,000 in the U.S. and the 
     International Trade Commission estimates the trade deficit 
     will increase in seven high-paying sectors. In addition, the 
     South Korea HA forbids reference to the International Labor 
     Organization (ILO) conventions.
       The South Korea FTA's investment chapter would give South 
     Korean investors rights to challenge U.S. laws, regulations, 
     and even court decisions in international tribunals that 
     circumvent the U.S. judicial system. Any potential benefit 
     from reduced tariffs would be mitigated, as South Korea is 
     one of the three countries that the U.S. Department of 
     Treasury lists as a currency manipulator.
       Even more troubling is that the South Korea FTA lacks 
     assurances that products assembled in South Korea will not 
     contain parts from North Korea's Kaesong Industrial Complex.
       These three pending agreements insult basic human rights. 
     The country of Colombia remains the global capital for 
     violence against workers; more unionists are killed every 
     year in this country than any other country. Most recently, a 
     lawyer representing sugarcane workers was gunned down in 
     May--only five weeks after a so-called U.S.-Colombia Labor 
     Action Plan was released.
       Nearly 2,680 unionists have been murdered in the country. 
     Only six percent of the murders have been prosecuted. Most 
     are never even investigated. In June, a Colombian rights 
     leader campaigning for the return of land snatched by illegal 
     militias was gunned down. While the Action Plan is a step in 
     the right direction, it does not go far enough to ensure 
     enforcement and compliance. We must see real improvement in 
     labor laws and a stop to the killing of unionists in 
     Colombia, before any trade agreement is approved. Simple 
     public relations gimmicks and laws that go unenforced are not 
     enough.
       The Colombia FTA will result in the further displacement of 
     the country's Afro-Colombian population. The country has the 
     highest population of displaced people, an estimated 5.2 
     million. The agreement will only accelerate the displacement 
     of impoverished Afro-Colombians and farmers.
       Panama remains one of the world's top tax havens. The 
     country is home to approximately 400,000 corporations, 
     including U.S. firms, which incorporate in the country to 
     avoid paying taxes. The pending Panama FTA does not require 
     U.S. construction and other firm's equal access to work on 
     the Panama Canal improvement project. In addition, Panama 
     continues to be a main site for drug money laundering by 
     Mexican and Colombian drug kingpins.
       Each of these three pending trade agreements remains 
     flawed. None will further U.S. job growth, which should be 
     our nation's top priority. Ensuring basic human rights and 
     dignity is a moral imperative. For economic and moral 
     reasons, we urge you to vote against these agreements. If you 
     have any questions, please contact Lisa P. Kinard, Director, 
     Department of Federal Legislation and Regulation, 
     International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
           Sincerely,
                                                   James P. Hoffa,
     General President.

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