DELAURO ON OPPOSITION TO FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement today after the passage by the House of Representatives of three Free Trade Agreements.

"Nothing is more important to our economy right now than creating jobs and putting America back to work. And yet, we have now passed three NAFTA-style trade agreements – with South Korea, Colombia and Panama – that we know from experience will lead to more jobs shipped overseas and greater trade deficits. In fact, the Economic Policy Institute has estimated that the agreement with South Korea will displace 159,000 U.S. workers while the agreement with Colombia will result in the loss of 55,000 American jobs.

"The South Korean agreement is particularly egregious as its proximity to China makes it an attractive conduit for Chinese businesses, which have a history of transshipping goods to the United States through other countries so they can avoid antidumping and countervailing duties levied against them for illegal trading practices, to further flood the U.S. market with cheap Chinese goods. With the Korea Customs Service stating that the quantity of products illegally labeled "Made in Korea" doubled between 2008 and 2010, I do not believe the legislation has adequate protections to prevent this potential flood of Chinese products, many of which are cheap or hazardous, into our market, again to the detriment of U.S. workers.

"The Colombia deal is also concerning, as this is a country that continues to be the world capital for violence against workers, will do more than just destroy American jobs. It will bring into question whether our nation continues to be a defender of human rights and workers rights around the world.

"I opposed these agreements because I believe we have a to stand up for our American working families, who do not need to see any more good, well-paying jobs shipped overseas."