MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US Congress approves free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and S Korea

House Speaker Republican John Boehner applauded the successful votes

The United States Congress voted Wednesday on a bipartisan basis to pass long delayed free-trade bills with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

President Barack Obama, who dined Thursday at a Korean restaurant with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and is to welcome him Thursday on a state visit to the White House, sent the trade deals to Congress last week.

The White House, Republicans and big business groups have said the deals would create jobs in the United States. The deals could spur 13 billion dollars annually in new exports and “support tens of thousands of jobs,” a senior Obama administration official has said.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Press Secretary, Obama called the agreements “a major win” for the nation. “Tonight's vote, with bipartisan support, will significantly boost exports that bear the proud label 'Made in America,' support tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs and protect labour rights, the environment and intellectual property,” he said, promising to sign the bills.

In a separate statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the agreements “will make it easier for American companies to sell their products to South Korea, Colombia and Panama, which will create jobs here at home.”

Union groups and some Democrats have opposed the bills, expressing doubt that they would create jobs.

The US agriculture industry has been calling for the free-trade agreement, which could open new markets for beef, wheat and soybeans. The US auto industry is also watching, as the deal with South Korea would mean a decline in tariffs aimed squarely at Detroit automakers.

The first bill, for Colombia, passed 262-167. Thirty-one Democrats voted with 231 Republicans to pass the bill, while nine Republicans and 158 Democrats opposed the measure. The second bill, for Panama, passed 300-129. Sixty-six Democrats voted with 234 Republicans to pass the bill, while six Republicans and 123 Democrats opposed the measure.

Finally, the third bill, for South Korea, passed 278-151. Fifty-nine Democrats voted with 219 Republicans to pass the bill, while 21 Republicans and 120 Democrats opposed the measure.

House Speaker John Boehner applauded the successful votes, thanking both President Obama and President Bush for working “in good faith to ensure they become law,” but he said their passage was long overdue.

“With passage in the House and Senate today, a key component of the Republican jobs plan will be sent to the president for his signature,” Boehner said. “These significant trade pacts will provide new opportunities for American small businesses, farmers and manufacturers to expand and hire more workers. And frankly, it shouldn’t have taken this long for it to happen”.

Boehner said that while the FTA equate to new jobs for Americans, “more work must be done to achieve the level of private-sector job growth America needs” adding that the bills “represent the type of permanent reform that must be our focus”.