US Trade Rep. "Dumbfounded" by Republican Boycott of FTA Vote
Arirang, Korea
US Trade Rep. "Dumbfounded" by Republican Boycott of FTA Vote
2 July 2011
The United States’ top trade official, Ron Kirk, says he is "dumbfounded" by Republican senators who failed to show up for a hearing Thursday to take action on three pending free trade agreements, including the one with Korea.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk told the Associated Press on Friday that he was surprised because the Republicans for the most part had said they were ready to pass a bipartisan deal that would move the three FTAs closer to ratification.
The majority Republicans largely support the FTAs, but Democrats wanted a package deal to extend a program called Trade Adjustment Assistance to help American workers displaced by foreign competition.
A spokesperson for Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said Republicans still had issues with including a spending measure in a trade agreement.
