Regarding the Package of Trade Bills

Floor Speech

* Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, my policy regarding trade agreements has always been to consider each agreement on its merits. I have supported some FTAs and I have opposed others based on a careful consideration of the details of the legislation and the pros and cons associated with them. In each case, I apply the following test: Will the agreement help the American economy and American workers?

* It is by that standard that I measured the trade package we are considering today containing the House passed renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences for poor countries; trade adjustment assistance to support those American workers who may be harmed in specific cases; and the long pending free trade agreements with Panama, Korea and Colombia. After considering each of these agreements, I have decided to support them.

* For too long, the U.S. automobile industry has had only limited access to Korea's auto market. In 2010, over 500,000 Korean autos were sold in the U.S. while only 14,000 American cars were sold in Korea. The Obama Administration negotiated with the Korean government and corrected that imbalance while increasing American access to other areas of the Korean economy such as its lucrative financial services and IT sectors. The agreement is supported by the United Auto Workers and the American auto industry.

* The Panama FTA increases the access of American goods and services to Panama's economy while also addressing long-standing concerns about the quality of Panama's workers protections and about its status as a tax-haven for those Americans trying to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Through close negotiation with the Panamanian government, the Obama Administration and Members of Congress have addressed those concerns.

* The Colombia FTA is also a win for the American economy. The benefits Colombia has enjoyed as a result of its membership among the GSP recipient countries has meant that it has had significant and one-sided access to the American market. This FTA balances that relationship so that now American companies enjoy the same access to Colombia's growing economy that Colombia has enjoyed in the U.S. for decades.

* Colombia has struggled with a violent past, including the targeted execution of labor organizers. With the accession of the Santos Administration and its commitment to addressing this serious problem, encouraging headway has been made. As an indication of its good faith, the Santos Administration has passed into law 75 percent of the requirements of the ``Action Plan'' it negotiated with the Obama Administration, including the adoption of standards required for approving trade agreements and establishing an ILO office in Bogota to monitor labor violations. Colombia has made significant progress toward penalizing those companies trying to circumvent collective bargaining agreements through the use of `collectives' and it has created a separate Ministry of Labor to give Cabinet-level attention to critical labor issues. Passage of the Colombia FTA will encourage the Colombian government to continue these reforms.

* Each of these bills increases opportunities for American companies and consumers while helping to spread those economic benefits widely for American workers here and abroad. The American economy cannot afford to sit on the sidelines as other countries form trade partnerships. As we aggressively pursue trade and export opportunities around the globe, steps we take to protect our workers at home, such as TAA, are critical.

* Together, these trade measures represent the strong commitment of Congress and the Obama Administration to promoting job growth in the U.S. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting these important pieces of legislation.

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