Kirk, Rubio ask President Obama to expand free trade in Western hemisphere

Approve Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements

 

Washington, D.C. – As President Obama embarks on a trip to Latin America, United States Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), along with 5 other Senate colleagues, are requesting the President submit to Congress for approval the Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements and to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) with willing partners to open additional export markets for the United States.

“By opening up a bold trade agenda encompassing the Western Hemisphere, you will create opportunities for higher incomes in the U.S. and foreign policy stability and growth in our own hemisphere, the Senators wrote. “In these times of international instability, our mission and this free trade initiative would go a long way towards ensuring peace and economic growth in our region of the planet.”

Illinois exported a total of $8.98 billion in products to Mexico and Latin American countries in 2010. The Top 10 export categories are:

1. Machinery, Except Electrical ($2,942,618,350)
2. Chemicals ($1,051,024,531)
3. Transportation Equipment ($1,023,099,182)
4. Computer And Electronic Products ($864,510,643)
5. Electrical Equipment, Appliances, And Component ($561,349,712)
6. Food And Kindred Products ($500,157,000)
7. Fabricated Metal Products, Nesoi ($456,981,444)
8. Plastics And Rubber Products ($311,959,693)
9. Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities ($257,790,501)
10. Paper ($249,140,214)

Florida had $24.759 billion in exports to Mexico and Latin American countries in 2010. The top ten export categories are:

1. Computer And Electronic Products ($9,544,014,239)
2. Machinery, Except Electrical ($3,214,235,843)
3. Transportation Equipment ($3,181,928,778)
4. Chemicals ($2,462,367,690)
5. Miscellaneous Manufactured Commodities ($1,461,122,184)
6. Electrical Equipment, Appliances, And Component ($1,033,753,589)
7. Fabricated Metal Products, Nesoi ($594,475,258)
8. Paper ($477,721,704)
9. FoodAnd Kindred Products ($433,191,850)
10. Plastics And Rubber Products ($425,673,532)

Text of letter below:

March 17, 2011
 

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

 

Dear Mr. President:

On the eve of your mission to Latin America, we ask you to prioritize the Western Hemisphere in our trade policy.

Specifically, we urge you to immediately submit both the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements to Congress, so that they can achieve Congressional approval and we can begin to reap the benefits of these important agreements. We believe these agreements are an important and necessary first step towards a broader trade policy.

We urge you to then engage willing partners in the hemisphere to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) to open additional export markets for the United States.

As you know, the United States established a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico in 1994. At the time, this agreement unified the largest trading market in the world, now encompassing a GDP of around $17 trillion.

The Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) was first proposed under President Clinton in 1994 and would open markets in 34 countries.

Mr. President, we look forward to working with you on this issue. By opening up a bold trade agenda encompassing theWestern Hemisphere, you will create opportunities for higher incomes in theU.S. and foreign policy stability and growth in our own hemisphere. In these times of international instability, our mission and this free trade initiative would go a long way towards ensuring peace and economic growth in our region of the planet.

Very truly yours,

Mark Kirk                               Marco Rubio
United States Senator        United States Senator                 Roy Blunt
United States Senator        United States Senator

Lamar Alexander

Charles E. Grassley            Mike Johanns
United States Senator         United States Senator

Ronald H. Johnson
United States Senator