Emergency Committee For American Trade

ECAT Urges Approval and Entry-into-Force of Key Trade Agreements

News Release For Immediate Release

September 15, 2009 Contact: Marc Fricchione

202.659.5147

ECAT Urges Approval and Entry-into-Force of Key Trade Agreements

Washington, D.C., September 15, 2009: Following its submission of detailed comments on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (Colombia TPA) and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (Korea FTA), Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT) President Calman Cohen urged the Obama Administration to proceed quickly to move forward with these agreements and the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (Panama TPA):

"At this time of economic challenge, the United States should use every tool in its arsenal to create new economic opportunities. Approval of already negotiated agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama would provide just such a boost, particularly to manufacturers, farmers, service providers and their workers who will be better able to access these markets because of the market opening and strong rules of fairness each of the agreements requires.

"These are high-standard and commercially valuable agreements that have remained on the shelf for too long, denying U.S. enterprises and workers much-needed economic opportunities and the improvements in the rule of law that each of these agreements promotes. Continued delay also risks other countries moving forward with these partners to provide the very benefits that our manufacturers, farmers, service providers and workers are being denied, putting the United States at a very real competitive disadvantage.

"ECAT urges prompt action by the Administration and Congress to approve the Colombia, Korea and Panama trade agreements and to bring them into force so that they can start working for America."

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Founded in 1967, ECAT is an organization of the heads of leading U.S. international business enterprises representing all major sectors of the American economy. Their annual worldwide sales exceed $2.7 trillion and they employ more than 6.4 million persons. ECAT’s purpose is to promote economic growth through the expansion of international trade and investment.

Attached Document(s): 09-15-09 ECAT Submission to USTR on US-Colombia TPA.pdf
09-15-09 ECAT Submission to USTR on US-Korea FTA.pdf