[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21889]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          PASS TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH PERU, PANAMA AND COLOMBIA

  (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. Mr. Speaker, trade is important to my home 
State of Illinois. One in five manufacturing jobs depends on trade; 40 
percent of agricultural products are exported from Illinois; and I 
would note, of the 17,000 Illinois companies that are dependent on 
trade, the vast majority are small employers.
  We have a great opportunity with some new trade agreements with Peru, 
Panama, and Colombia. They are important both for Illinois jobs as well 
as for democratic security in our hemisphere. I would note today for 
our friends in Panama, Peru and Colombia, their products come to the 
United States tax free. But when we sell our products to them, we pay 
taxes. Our partners have agreed to eliminate those taxes and level the 
playing field. It is time to honor our commitments with our trading 
partners. Unfortunately, some in the Democratic leadership have said 
they would reject a deal with our best friend in Latin America, 
Colombia, and have told our other trading partners they just are not 
worthy of a trade agreement. No wonder so many in Latin America think 
the United States Congress is turning its back on Latin America. Peru, 
Panama and Colombia represent our best allies. They are good trade 
agreements. Let's move forward and level the playing field. Pass these 
trade agreements.

                          ____________________