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SOCMA offers support for free trade pacts with South Korea, Panama, and Colombia
The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) issued its support this week of the passage of pending free-trade agreements (FTA) with South Korea, Panama and Colombia by two Congressional committees. SOCMA is the US-based trade association representing custom and batch manufacturers, including contract manufacturers of fine chemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates, and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Free-trade deals would be costly to US
For over a decade, the labor movement and development advocates have called for fair-trade policy that is part of a more coordinated and coherent national economic strategy. Unfortunately, the Korean, Colombian and Panamanian free-trade deals before Congress do not address the fundamental policy failures of the North American Free Trade Agreement and China’s inclusion into "favored nation status," which has led to catastrophic job loss in the U.S. and the explosion of our import/export deficit, now reaching $500 billion annually.
Free trade at what cost?
Inking free trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia is among the highest priorities for the U.S. business community.
Administration wants to send trade pacts to Congress before recess
The Obama administration hopes to send all three pending free trade agreements — Colombia, Panama, and Korea — to Congress before the August recess.
Panama seeks FTA with Caribbean countries
Panama will attend the Caribbean Investment Forum in Trinidad and Tobago, to offer Caribbean countries like Barbados, Belize and Jamaica free trade agreements negotiations, according to an official source.
Machinists union launches fair trade campaign on Facebook
Countering GOP demands for the passage of three seriously-flawed trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) today launched a targeted, informational ad campaign on Facebook.
White House threatens to hold up key trade deals
The White House is threatening to hold up final passage of three coveted free trade agreements unless lawmakers expand retraining assistance for American workers who lose their jobs because of foreign competition.
Disagreements hold up free trade agreements
The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the proposed US free trade agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia, while the National Farmers Union is opposed.
Peru sees FTAs with Panama, Costa Rica coming into force in January 2012
Peru’s free trade agreements (FTAs) with Panama and Costa Rica are expected to come into force in January 2012, according to the Andean country’s Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry.
Panama deal opens way for other trade agreements
Administration officials said Tuesday that a free trade agreement with Panama is ready for congressional consideration and that they hoped it will be part of a larger trade agenda that also includes completion of long-pending free trade treaties with South Korea and Colombia.
Panama human rights problems spotlighted in Washington
The list of US criticisms of human rights infringements in Panama under the Martinelli administration continues to grow and the president, unlike the leaders of other countries seeking an FTA, has still not been invited to the White House.
US business sees trade deals approved by July
A new U.S. deal with Colombia to address longstanding labor concerns should clear the way for Congress to pass three long-stalled free trade agreements by July, industry officials said on Friday.
Senate Republicans link nominations to sending Korea, Colombia, Panama FTAs together
Republican senators Monday pressed President Obama to send Congress the pending free trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia at the same time, threatening to block his nominations for commerce secretary and other officials otherwise.
Rethinking trade with Panama
It’s been a year and a half since Canada and Panama signed a free-trade agreement that creates important opportunities for Canadian producers. Parliament should ratify it.
Ag groups urge Senate Finance Committee to act FTAs for Korea, Colombia, and Panama
In advance of a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 9, with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the American Soybean Assn. (ASA), along with other representatives of the U.S. food and agriculture industry, reiterated support for swift passage of the pending U.S. trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama.
China in talks over Panama Canal rival
China is in talks to build an alternative to the Panama Canal that would link Colombia’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts by rail – a move that Bogotá also hopes will spur Washington to push for Congressional approval of a US-Colombia free-trade pact.
US aims Latam trade accords to Congress by mid-year
President Barack Obama’s administration aims to send stalled free trade pacts with Colombia and Panama to Congress by the middle of this year after fresh analysis of the situation in both countries, a senior US official said on Monday.
WikiLeaks on Panama: Laying bare the paranoid, pro-corporate agenda
Faced with widespread social opposition, governments adopt an anti-democratic stance as they push through the free trade agenda, becoming so paranoid in the process that they seek to enact illegal wiretaps.
Panama begins campaign for free trade with EFTA
Panama’s Trade and Industry Minister Roberto Enriquez announced on Friday that Panama will begin campaigning for a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations.
Peru president proposes a Pacific Rim integration for South America
Yesterday, Peruvian President Alan García said he wrote letters to the presidents of Panama, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador, proposing the regional integration of the five Pacific rim countries.