Senator Coons votes for trade agreements with Korea, Panama

Senator Coons voted for two of the three free trade agreements submitted by the White House for Senate approval, supporting the deals with South Korea and Panama, but rejecting the deal with Colombia.

“Free and fair trade with the Republic of Korea means jobs in Delaware as more businesses join the hundreds of Delaware companies already exporting their products to the growing Korean marketplace," Senator Coons said. "Harim’s recent investment in Delaware’s poultry industry demonstrates the benefits to be gained by improving our trade relations with Korea, and today’s move to lower some of the barriers to trade there will take it a step further. Similarly, the agreement with Panama is a good opportunity for American businesses in another growing market. Panama has taken significant steps in the last few years to strengthen the rights of workers and its transparency on tax matters. Both of these agreements will help Delaware and that’s why I voted for them tonight.

Chris drew a line, though, on the agreement with Colombia, saying he had, "serious reservations about entering into a trade agreement with Colombia, the most dangerous country in the world in which to work as a trade unionist. Free trade with Colombia in the current environment does not mean fair trade for American workers, and I urge the Colombian government to address its pressing human rights issues by pursuing and prosecuting criminals who choose violence as a means of negotiating with trade unions."

The Senator considered each of the three agreements on its own merits, looking at the size of market opportunity for Delaware companies, protections for labor rights, respect for the environment, and defense of U.S. intellectual property rights. He warned, though, that the fulfillment of the agreements must be monitored. 

“None of these agreements will be worth the paper they're written on if we don’t follow up with adequate enforcement," Senator Coons said. "Free trade can never be fair trade without robust enforcement that includes strong protections for American intellectual property and a continued commitment to labor rights for all."