Washington, D.C. — Today the House of Representatives passed with the support of Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18) three important trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

The agreements eliminate tariff and regulatory barriers for American exporters, and set up strict enforcement measures that ensure trade is both fair and free. Under the legislation, participants would have to adhere to strict customs enforcement measures, and “country of origin” standards will ensure imports are actually from our trading partner and not a third party like China.

“These agreements will open up new markets for Pennsylvania manufacturers while ensuring discriminatory and illegal trade practices are not tolerated,” said Rep. Murphy.

Economic analysts have estimated the trade deals will lead to the creation of over 250,000 American jobs, increase U.S. exports by at least $13 billion, and add more than $10 billion to U.S. Gross Domestic Product per year. Murphy noted that these agreements will dramatically help our domestic exporters and just as important, that none of the agreements would undo federal laws that stop foreign competitors from illegally dumping products onto the U.S. market below cost, undermine fair trade standards, or put American factories at a disadvantage to global competitors.

“Compared to international competitors, American manufacturers are more productive, have safer workplaces, employ the most talented workforce, comply with the strictest environmental controls, and create the highest quality goods. These free trade agreements will help to raise foreign businesses up to our own high standards rather than undermine our values and benchmarks. American workers deserve nothing less from our international trading partners.”

“By approving this legislation, the United States is demonstrating it will not settle for second place as other nations move ahead and seek to build prosperous relationships with new trading partners.”

Said Murphy, “Congress is duty bound to ensure that the U.S. does not enter any trade agreement that would undercut our own manufacturers and exporters. Each framework meets the criteria of the World Trade Organization. As other nations have moved ahead to build a similar framework, passage of the three agreements today shows that American manufacturing stands above all in the international marketplace.”