Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Trade Promotion Agreements

Letter

February 1, 2011

The Honorable Barack H. Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama,

The most critical aspect to jumpstart our nation's economic recovery is job growth. In your recent State of the Union on January 25, 2011 you spoke about our three pending Trade Promotion Agreements (TPAs) as a tool to support our economy. I commend you for highlighting the need to strengthen our trade relations with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. However, you also called attention to these three pending agreements in your last State of the Union on January 27, 2010.

Unfortunately we are no closer today than we were a year ago in advancing these TPAs. I therefore reiterate my urgent request that your Administration submit implementing legislation to Congress for each of these agreements without delay. If we are to meet the goal of the National Export Initiative to double exports, we must break down trade barriers beginning with the three TPAs which are already negotiated.

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Colombia TPA, once fully implemented could provide $910 million in gains each year for U.S. agriculture. The potential benefits for Korea are even greater - $1.6 billion for agriculture alone. The result is jobs - jobs we desperately need in the heartland and across the U.S.

It's time to back up your words with actions. I strongly urge you to send all three agreements to Congress for approval as quickly as possible. Thank you for your attention to this important issue and I look forward to working with you to bring these trade agreements to completion.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator

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