Republicans Press Obama on Stalled Trade Deals

(Industry Week – Agence France-Presse)

The accords could generate jobs, say supporters of free-trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea

A group of U.S. President Barack Obama’s sharpest congressional critics urged him in a letter released Friday to revive stalled free trade pacts with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea in early 2010.

The accords, which have languished amid stiff opposition from Democrats and their labor-union allies, could generate jobs at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate is at a quarter-century high, the Republican lawmakers wrote.

“In the interest of supporting American job creation, we ask that you jump-start the implementation process through your leadership,” said the group, led by Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner.

The lawmakers called on Obama to promote the accords in his annual State of the Union speech – typically in late January – and pledged “to work steadfastly with you to implement each of these agreements as close to the start of next year as possible.” Read more here.