Congressman Rivera: White House Continues to Delay Free Trade Agreements

The White House announced today that it would delay sending the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to Congress for approval unless lawmakers extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. 

House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Congressman David Rivera (FL-25), who is in Colombia this week as part of a Congressional Delegation, called the threat by the White House another stalling tactic to prevent the passage of the three pending free trade agreements.

“In his State of the Union address last year, President Obama said that ‘if America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores.’  Actions, however, speak louder than words. The President seems more willing to put roadblocks in the way of the trade pacts, than to allow them to go to Congress for approval,” Congressman Rivera said. 

“Earlier this month it seemed the White House finally recognized the hugely positive impact of all three agreements, and why it is necessary to pass them as a package deal.  Now, President Obama is back to playing politics.

“Progress on these pending free trade agreements is good news for the American economy.  By eliminating trade barriers, and increasing the demand for American goods overseas, U.S. GDP and exports would grow by billions of dollars, and thousands of jobs would be created in the United States.

“The United States, the world’s largest economy, should not be falling behind when it comes to trade.  The time has come to approve all three free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea; not to further delay approval through stalling tactics,” Congressman Rivera concluded.

Congressman Rivera has been one of the most active Members of the House of Representatives on the free trade issue, especially on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.  He is a member of the Colombia Free Trade Working Group.

Last year, Congressman Rivera made the approval of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement a central tenant of his “Pledge to District 25” economic plan, and was a leader amongst the group of freshman Congressman who led an effort to send a letter to President Obama urging him to approve Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.  In part, as a result of Congressman Rivera’s efforts, 67 freshman Members of the House of Representatives signed the letter to President Obama.