"We are expected to gain more than $125 million in new sales and about a thousand new jobs. Being able to export more beef, wheat, pork and other products duty-free will increase Kansas exports by millions of dollars," said Huelskamp.
Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-04) also praised the agreements. “By lowering trade barriers and tariffs, the playing field becomes more level and our U.S. manufacturers, aviation workers and farmers win."
The House also passed and sent to President Barack Obama a bill to extend aid to workers displaced by foreign competition. Obama had demanded that the worker aid bill be part of the trade package.
Full Statement from Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-04):
I am pleased that these Free Trade Agreements have finally moved forward after many years with no progress. These FTAs will not only increase exports, lower our trade deficit and stimulate needed U.S. economic growth, but they will also erase the competitive disadvantage we’ve been suffering by providing new access to foreign markets which were previously closed off with tariffs.
These FTAs provide our U.S. firms with new advantage over our competitors in Europe and Asia. Key U.S. export sectors receive immediate duty-free treatment, including: aircraft, construction equipment, fertilizers and more. These agreements also benefit our farmers by lowering the tariffs that were in place on U.S. agricultural exports.
By lowering trade barriers and tariffs, the playing field becomes more level and our U.S. manufacturers, aviation workers and farmers win."
Full Statement from Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-01):
Passage of new trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama will address two of the country’s biggest challenges: the need to create jobs and the need to grow the economy. These agreements will help with getting people back to work without the government having to spend a dime.
For Kansas, the benefits are enormous, particularly for our farmers and ranchers. We are expected to gain more than $125 million in new sales and about a thousand new jobs. Being able to export more beef, wheat, pork and other products duty-free will increase Kansas exports by millions of dollars.
But, let's not hang up our hats here. While other trade agreements idle, our competitors are crowding us out of the market, finalizing agreements that make the U.S. a less attractive trading partner. In August, I hosted the Ambassador of Vietnam in Kansas. Not only was he impressed with the safety of our products, but also the costs at which we can provide quality products. That is an opportunity. But, unless the U.S. also acts quickly to finalize agreements with other nations, countries like Vietnam - with growing populations and growing checkbooks - will make superior arrangements with our competitors.
