President Obama signed the enacting legislation for the U.S. free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea into law this morning, with BRT-member CEOs on hand to commemorate the historic legislation. A round-up...
We don't see any official White House statement from the President yet online, so link instead to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk's statement posted at the White House blog, "President Obama Signs Historic Legislation Signaling Progress on Trade and Jobs."
Business Roundtable's release declared, "Business Roundtable Commends Signing of Trade Agreements and Urges a More Proactive Trade Agenda." Commenting were BRT Chairman Jim McNerney, CEO of Boeing, Doug Oberhelman of Caterpillar, who heads BRT's international engagement committee, and Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of ACE Limited, an active member on trade issues.
Yahoo News carries wire photos from the official signing ceremony, including this Associated Press photo that includes McNerney, Oberhelman and fellow BRT-member CEO, Ursula Burns of Xerox. We know that Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical, was also in attendance.
After the separate signings for each of the three FTAs and the legislation extending Trade Adjustment Assistance, President Obama came to the Rose Garden to make brief comments before a larger gathering. David Thomas, our trade policy director, took this shot.
More statements and coverage ...
- AP, via Washington Post, "Obama signs trade deals with S. Korea, Panama and Colombia _ biggest agreements since NAFTA"
- Reuters, "Obama signs long-delayed trade pacts into law"
- Reuters, "USTR's Kirk eyes enforcement to open markets"
- Speaker of the House John Boehner statement, "Speaker Boehner Praises Signing of Job-Creating Trade Bills, Components of GOP Jobs Plan"
- Rep. Dave Camp, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Commiteee, "Camp Attends Signing of Job-Creating Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea"
- News release, Caterpillar, "Caterpillar Hails Passage of Export-Boosting Free Trade Agreements, Which Will Support Jobs Growth in the United States"
- News release, Ernst & Young, "Statement by Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, James S. Turley on President Obama's Signing of FTAs"
- News release, ACE Limited, "ACE's Evan Greenberg Comments on Passage and Signing of Free Trade Agreements"
- Colombia Reports, "US-Colombia FTA to produce 'economic growth, social transformation': Santos," Santos being the president of Colombia.
- The Korea Times, "Ruling camp to pass FTA by Oct. 31"
- Bloomberg (Oct. 20), "Free-Trade Pact U.S. Job Gains May Be Underestimated, Kirk Says"