Articles

Times Record
Peter Urban - Stephens Washington Bureau
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WASHINGTON — Congress easily approved three long-delayed free-trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama that could be a boon to Arkansas exporters.

The White House estimates the three trade agreements could boost exports by more than $13 billion a year and create over 250,000 jobs, said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, who voted for all three trade bills.

These trade agreements will open three more growing markets to American-made products and American-grown food and fiber, particularly from states like Arkansas, boosting production and creating more private-sector jobs,” Ross said.

Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said Wednesday that he supported the agreements because he believes they will benefit Arkansas.

“The Farm Bureau in Arkansas estimates this will add about $56 million a year in exports,” Pryor said. “In addition, some 1,600 companies export products overseas.”

Pryor said that those companies, including Baldor Electric in Fort Smith, Evergreen Packaging in Pine Bluff, and Maybelline in North Little Rock, would likely see increased sales.

The Arkansas delegation — Pryor, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Reps. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, Mike Ross, D-Prescott, Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, and Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro — voted in favor of all three agreements.

Congressional leaders scheduled the votes so that the trade agreements would be cleared ahead of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s address Thursday afternoon to a joint session of Congress. The White House is also holding a State dinner in his honor this evening.

Griffin said he was proud to support the trade agreements.

“Thousands of Arkansans earn their living from the export of Arkansas-made products to other countries.  When job creators have access to new markets, they can hire additional employees and expand their businesses here in the United States,” Griffin said.

Womack said that he also supported the trade agreements.

“I’m a free trader,” Womack said. “These agreements produce jobs and are important to our agricultural community and other business interests seeking access to these markets.”

Arkansas has seen its exports increase from $3.9 billion in 2005 to $5.2 billion in 2010 with about 27 percent heading to Canada and Mexico.

In 2010, the state exported $144.8 million in goods to South Korea, $33.2 million to Columbia and $5 million to Panama.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, said that American farmers would benefit from the free-trade agreements through reductions in tariffs that otherwise put American products at a price disadvantage.

“I support these trade agreements on behalf of American farmers and ranchers,” Lucas said.

The free-trade agreements are supported by many corporations including: Cargill, Tyson Foods, ConAgra, National Chicken Council, USA Rice Federation and the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association.

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, voted against the agreements saying that they do not protect the interests of U.S. workers.

“The International Trade Commission’s report on the Korea agreement indicates that the net effect will be to increase our trade deficit with that country,” Harkin said.

The House approved the South Korea agreement, 278-151, the Panama deal, 300-129, and the Columbia agreement, 262-167.

The Senate approved the South Korea agreement, 83-15, the Panama deal, 77-22, and the Columbia agreement, 66-33.