MEDIA CONTACT:
Tamara Hinton, 202.225.0184
tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to examine the three pending free trade agreements between the U.S. and Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, and the issues surrounding their implementation. It has been nearly four years since the agreements were signed and delays to implement them are costing the U.S. in market share and access to foreign competitors.

Agriculture stands to benefit significantly from expanding exports because it is one of the most trade-dependent industries in the U.S. today. The agreements are worth more than $2.5 billion in new market access for American agricultural exports. U.S. agricultural exports currently support nearly 900,000 jobs. For every dollar of goods exported, another $1.48 is created in activities such as processing, finance, shipping, and packaging of agricultural goods.

During the hearing, Members of the Agriculture Committee stressed the importance of the agreements because they would make U.S. agricultural products more competitive by reducing and eventually eliminating tariffs and non-tariff import restrictions. Members also questioned U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on a timeline for implementing the three agreements. There are particular concerns that the U.S. is losing the advantages of moving first in negotiating agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea because U.S. trading partners are implementing their own trade deals with these countries. For example, Korea has a free trade agreement with the European Union that will go into effect in July.

“Right now America’s farmers and ranchers are competing in the global market in the face of stiff protectionism while their foreign competitors are gaining preferential treatment and access at their expense. We must act quickly and bring these agreements to a vote before July 1. These FTAs will expand U.S. exports, create jobs, and bring much-needed income to communities across rural America. It is time for action,” said Chairman Frank Lucas.

Written testimony provided by the witnesses is linked below.

Witness List:

To review pending free trade agreements

http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetails.aspx?NewsID=1383

Date and Time

May 12, 2011 | 10:00 AM

Location

1300 Longworth House Office Building

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美농무 “한미FTA 발효후 공격적 쇠고기 마케팅”

출처 : 연합 2011/05/14 07:54 
http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2011/05/14/0200000000AKR20110514017000071.HTML?did=1179m

 
(워싱턴=연합뉴스) 황재훈 특파원 = 톰 빌색 미국 농무장관은 한미 자유무역협정(FTA) 비준 후 미국이 한국에서 대대적인 미국산 쇠고기 마케팅 활동에 들어갈 방침임을 밝혔다.

   그는 12일(현지시각) FTA 문제를 주제로 열린 미 하원 농업위원회 청문회에 출석, “한국과의 FTA가 비준되면 공격적인 마케팅 노력이 있을 것으로 예상한다”고 말했다.

   그러면서 “(미국) 육류수출협회는 미국산 쇠고기의 공격적인 (판매) 촉진을 정말 시작할 의도를 갖고 있음을 시사하고 있다”면서 “그런 것이 성공할 것이라고 생각한다”고 전망했다.

 론 커크 미 무역대표부(USTR) 대표도 이날 청문회에서 미국이 아시아 지역에서 국제적 기준에 따른 쇠고기 시장 추가 접근을 시도할 방침임을 밝혔다.

   한편 빌색 농무장관은 한미 FTA 발효때 미국 농산품 수출이 19억달러 정도 증가할 것으로 예상하고 있으며, 한국으로 수출하는 현재 농산품 중 60% 가량이 즉각 관세가 철폐될 것이라며 한미 FTA 조기 비준 필요성을 강조했다.

   jh@yna.co.kr