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Grassley on FTAs going to Congress

There’s widespread support for the Free Trade Agreements put in Congressional hands Monday. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says progress on the agreements is none too soon.

“The Obama administration itself predicts 70,000 new jobs will be supported if these deals are implemented,” Grassley told reporters, “So, that’s why we should have gotten it done yesterday instead of sometime this month.”

In a conference call this morning, Grassley told Brownfield that roadblocks to Congressional approval of the agreements are out of the way since passage of Trade Adjustment Assistance, which provides assistance to workers adversely affected by trade agreements.

Grassley says this may provide momentum for renewal of Trade Promotion Authority, giving the President negotiating authority.

“So, I urge the president to ask for trade promotion authority immediately so we can continue to help our economy. A sustained effort to expand opportunities can help jumpstart economic recovery.”

However, National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson is urging Congress to oppose passage of the FTAs, saying the three agreements are similar to NAFTA and CAFTA which have, in his words, “worsened the U.S. trade deficit, because the U.S. does not compete on a level playing field with other nations.”

 

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