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Free-trade pacts would create jobs

The U.S. is finally within sight of having free trade agreements (FTAs) passed with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, but it’s as if we’re in first place with 100 yards left in a marathon — and we’ve stopped to tie our shoelaces. The issues that have caused us to tie and retie have largely been fixed. Labor rights in Colombia have begun to be addressed. The Obama administration has agreed, after the South Korea FTA has passed, to begin discussions with that nation that would lift remaining restrictions on U.S. beef imports. And last month, Panama passed a law that would allow for greater tax transparency. The administration has also agreed to send all three FTAs to Capitol Hill for a vote as a package, as Republicans had demanded.

Passing and implementing these trade pacts is becoming more crucial by the day. We’ve already lost billions of dollars in market share to other countries, because they’re frankly tired of waiting for us to act. In 2008, the U.S. sold $600 million worth of corn to Colombia, but by 2010, exports fell to $200 million. Agricultural products, bulldozers, tractors, off-highway trucks and chemicals would all enter Colombia duty-free.

Last week, it was announced that the highest number of unemployment claims were made since August. It is, therefore, even more critical that we get these FTAs voted upon, passed and implemented, because every billion dollars in foreign trade supports 9,000 jobs in the U.S. Administration figures show that the South Korea trade agreements alone will support 70,000 U.S. jobs, more than 22,000 of which would be in agriculture.

It’s time to stop staring at our shoes. It’s time to get up, sprint that final 100 yards, and break the tape before our competition does. It’s time to pass the free trade agreements.

Philip Nelson

President

Illinois Farm Bureau

Seneca