US Congress approves long-stalled trade deals

The US Congress approved long-stalled free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea that President Barack Obama trumpeted as engines of growth and job-creation. The accords will "significantly boost exports that bear the proud label 'Made in America,' support tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs and protect labor rights, the environment and intellectual property," Obama cheered. The three deals sailed through by wide margins despite stiff opposition from labor unions historically allied with Democrats and from lawmakers fearful the pacts could finish off their home states' wounded manufacturing sectors. The Republican-held House of Representatives votes were 262-167 for Colombia, 300-129 for Panama, and 278-151 for South Korea. The Democratic-led Senate approved South Korea by 83-15, Panama by 77-22, and Colombia by 66-33. The House also approved a Senate-passed measure aimed at helping US workers displaced by overseas competition, a measure the White House and its Democratic allies had made a precondition for advancing the trade deals. "The landmark trade agreements and assistance for American workers that passed tonight are a major win for American workers and businesses," the embattled president said in a statement. Obama had made passing the accords -- negotiated and signed some five years ago under his predecessor, George W. Bush -- a core part of his strategy to battle 9.1 percent unemployment ahead of November 2012 elections. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also hailed the agreements' passage, describing South Korea, Colombia and Panama as "three important partners in strategically vital regions," and adding that with the approval of the pacts, the United States had "delivered for our friends and allies." The Obama administration said the deals will boost US exports by $13 billion and benefit US agriculture and manufacturing, and bolster diplomatic ties to all three countries. It has also warned that the United States stands to lose ever more market share to global competitors like the European Union or China as those economies have secured new trade deals. The pacts' Republican and Democratic backers had been keen to pass them on the eve of visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak's speech to a joint session of the US Congress, a rare diplomatic prize. Lee and Obama were to travel to Michigan on Friday to tour a General Motors plant -- one source, Washington hopes, of future car sales to South Korea thanks to the agreement. "These significant trade pacts will provide new opportunities for American small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers to expand and hire more workers," said Republican House Speaker John Boehner. "These free trade agreements will give our economy a much-needed shot in the arm," agreed Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, whose panel has jurisdiction over taxes and trade. But many Democrats, notably from the hard-hit heartland, expressed worries about possible US jobs losses. "Now is not the time to pass more wrongheaded free trade agreements," said Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, who represents the rustbelt state of Ohio. "We must put American jobs and American workers first." And major US labor unions -- whose sweeping get-out-the-vote drives have been critical to Democratic politicians -- opposed the accords on grounds they will only hasten the bloodletting in the country's wounded manufacturing sector. The AFL-CIO union that represents an estimated 12 million US workers waged a television advertising campaign to defeat the agreements. The ads pointed to a study by the Economic Policy Institute think tank in Washington that found the South Korea deal would cost some 159,000 US jobs. They also revived concerns about violence against labor activists in Colombia, where 51 were killed last year and 22 have been slain in 2011, and charged that Panama was a haven for money laundering and tax cheats. The White House said late Tuesday that Bogota had approved an "action plan" to improve labor rights and vowed to ensure it has been "successfully implemented" before Washington fully brings that accord into force. But many Democrats opposed the Colombia deal. "I lost my faith in the legislation" when efforts to include the labor rights provision in the actual agreement failed, said Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "If it's not in the bill, it doesn't exist." Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, in a national address, said Obama "kept his word" and expressed "gratitude" to the US president, Bush, and the congress. The South Korea deal awaits approval of the parliament in Seoul, where opposition has likewise focused on ostensible threats to Korean jobs and businesses.