While President Barack Obama was praised by conservatives as Congress approved free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, a select group of the Congressional Black Caucus members cried foul, saying it won’t create the jobs needed right now.
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said the free trade agreements that cleared Congress Oct. 12 will not only create no jobs here, but will actually ship some American jobs overseas.
“I am committed to helping U.S. companies create jobs and export their products overseas, but these agreements fall well short of meeting those goals,” Edwards said in a statement. “Congress should be focused on making investments here at home instead of passing legislation that will cost 214,000 jobs.”
Obama insists the trade pacts open up new markets for the American workforce and makes U.S. products more competitive on a global scale.
“Tonight’s vote, with bipartisan support, will significantly boost exports that bear the proud label ‘Made in America,’ support tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs and protect labor rights, the environment and intellectual property,” he said in a statement. “American automakers, farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, including many small businesses, will be able to compete and win in new markets.”
Meanwhile, Republicans praised the passing of the bill saying it was long overdue. However Congressional GOP members still didn’t pass up a chance to attack Obama saying that despite this agreement, job creators are wary of his business regulations.
“The constant threat of tax increases and the continued threat of excessive regulations coming from this administration sends the wrong signal to our entrepreneurs, our investors and our business people, the very people we need to create jobs,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told the USA Today.