Slaughter Asks White House Not to Push Korea Trade Deal Forward

Statement

House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter issued the following statement in response to the announcement at the G20 conference that President Obama wants Congress to approve a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea before Thanksgiving.

"I am surprised that the Administration would try to slide this poorly written trade deal past the American public when Congress has already said that the deal is not good for our economy or workers," Slaughter said. "To try and advance the Korean FTA when so many workers are still struggling to find work would simply move our economy backward. This trade pact was written by a Republican Administration with the corporate bottom line in mind. The President has pledged to work hand in hand with Congress, but there are significant changes that must be made in order for this free trade agreement to gain broad Congressional support. I would much rather see the President first move strongly toward approval of the Reciprocal Market Access Act, which says simply that any free trade agreement provides equal market opportunities for American workers and companies as provided to foreign companies to our market."

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