Democrats ask to meet Obama on Korea trade concerns

[brentspeak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66L6BN20100722?type=politicsNews

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON | Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:47pm EDT

snip

"At a time when our economy is struggling to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression, it is unthinkable to consider moving forward with another job-killing FTA," the 110 members of the U.S. House of Representatives said in a letter to Obama.

The letter underscores the battle Obama faces within his own party unless he persuades South Korea to make substantial changes to the agreement it negotiated three years ago with the administration of former President George W. Bush.

snip

"We oppose specific provisions of the agreement in the financial services, investment and labor chapters because they benefit multi-national corporations at the expense of small businesses and workers," they said.

"And we strongly object to the non-tariff barriers to the Korean market that numerous U.S. industries -- including the auto, beef and textile sectors -- will continue to face even as their Korean counterparts receive virtually total access to the American market," they said.

Another stab-in-the-back that Bush left us. This so-called "free trade" agreement should not come up for a vote. However, Obama is http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/17/1567808/south-korea-free-trade-deal-pushed.html">pushing for it.

[Omaha Steve]

1. Fair trade not free trade

Labor, environment, rights, etc. first.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Lasher]

3. I don't want them to make changes.

I want them to forget about this FTA in its entirety and start dismantling the other ones.

[pampango]

4. If the EU can handle free trade with South Korea, so can we. n/t