Opponents United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement

president obama makes last-minute edits speech announcing korus fta on december 4, 2010.



much attention has been focused on automobiles, hitherto major u.s. grievance , large component of bilateral trade deficit: during 2006, 4,000 u.s.-manufactured cars (excluding gm s daewoo subsidiary) sold in south korea while sales of cars manufactured south korean companies (including cars manufactured in korean-owned u.s. plants) in united states exceeded 800,000. south korean automakers sold 730,863 vehicles in united states in 2005, while american auto companies sold 5,795 in south korea, according commerce department figures.
the fta abolish taxes in south korea on large cars produced in united states, u.s. auto makers have long called impediment market access in korea .
when president obama committed move korea fta in 2010, democratic members of congress , democratic-affiliated groups criticized decision. president richard trumka of afl-cio said: “our negotiators should go table address imbalanced market-access provisions in agreement , revisit flawed investment, procurement, , services provisions well. president obama promised ‘smart, fair , strong’ trade policy. korus fta not meet standard, , work closely administration , congress improve agreement on behalf of american , korean workers. unless , until agreement amended address these concerns, oppose passage of u.s.-south korea trade agreement.
chairwoman louise slaughter (d-n.y.) of house rules committee said: “i surprised administration try slide poorly written trade deal past american public when congress has said deal not our economy or workers… try , advance korean fta when many workers still struggling find work move our economy backward. trade pact written republican administration corporate bottom line in mind. president has pledged work hand in hand congress, there significant changes must made in order free trade agreement gain broad congressional support.
immediately following passage of korus in october 2011, companies , industry groups voiced concern deal. according united states international trade commission, american textile industry expected lose jobs south korean manufacturers make same products @ 15 20 below cost american manufacturers.
citing concern on american jobs, allen e. gant, jr., president , ceo of textile manufacturer glen raven, said “we in favor of global trade, we’re not having agreements unfair u.s. textile industry.[...]the u.s. needs every single job can get.” others in american textile industry, has experienced sustained decline decades, stated there lack of commitment u.s. government preserve american textile manufacturing.




^ fta not way . international herald tribune. 2007-04-03. retrieved 2007-04-12. 
^ robert scott trade policy , job loss: u.s. trade deals colombia , korea costly, economic policy institute, 25 february 2010.
^ cite error: named reference iht 2007-04-03 invoked never defined (see page).
^ cite error: named reference washington post invoked never defined (see page).
^ readies korean business . asia times. 2007-04-04. retrieved 2007-04-07. 
^ statement afl-cio president richard trumka on u.s.–south korea trade agreement, june 29, 2010
^ slaughter asks white house not push korea trade deal forward – congresswoman louise slaughter. louise.house.gov (2010-06-28). retrieved on 2010-12-05.
^ appelbaum, binyamin (2011-10-11). foes of south korea free trade deal struggle heard . new york times. retrieved 2011-10-14.