I posted a thread earlier today for people to discuss the three free trade agreements that were debated and passed today. Very few people decided to express any opinion about them one way or the other. I find that interesting because these three bills are probably the most significant bills that will be passed in this entire two-year Congress. Here are the Senate roll calls for all three bills:
South Korea 83-15
Panama 77-22
Colombia 66-33
As I noted earlier, these bills differed in their merit. For me, the Panamanian one was the easiest to support. The Colombian one was the hardest. Congress saw things a little differently, but they passed them all. Here’s the president’s statement:
The landmark trade agreements and assistance for American workers that passed tonight are a major win for American workers and businesses. I’ve fought to make sure that these trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama deliver the best possible deal for our country, and I’ve insisted that we do more to help American workers who have been affected by global competition. 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 labor rights, the environment and intellectual property. American automakers, farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, including many small businesses, will be able to compete and win in new markets. I look forward to signing these agreements, which will help achieve my goal of doubling American exports and keeping America competitive in the 21st century.
Personally, I don’t think these deals will do much for our employment rate either way. I guess that is good and bad. If you search the archives, you’ll see that I predicted that these trade bills would pass, and that very little else would.