Lungren votes on trade agreements will mean U.S. jobs.

Jobs will result from Lungren votes to open new markets for American Goods and Services

Washington DC: Today Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Gold River- CA) voted in favor of three  free trade agreements that will open up trade with American allies; South Korea, Columbia and Panama. H.R. 3080 - United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act;  H.R. 3078 - United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act;  H.R. 3079 - United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, are reported by the U.S. International Trade Commission to increase U.S. exports by at least $13 billion. Lungren gave the following statement:
“Today was an important step in creating jobs in America. The President along with members of the House, Senate, agree that the passage of these trade agreements are good for job creation and long overdue.
“Americans produce the best goods and services in the world and today we opened new markets for those goods to be sold. Our vote this afternoon will increase our global customer base, create jobs, level the playing field for U.S. businesses and provide an adrenaline boost to a sluggish economy.
"My goal and that of my Republican colleagues is topass legislation that will foster job growth and strengthen our economy. Today we have done that.” 


Brief Details of Trade Agreements – provided by the House Committee on Ways and Means
 Creating Quality U.S. Jobs
Passing all three pending trade agreementsis a way to create well-paying U.S. jobs and boost economic growth by opening new markets for U.S. goods and services.  These agreements do not  add one dime of new government spending.

• Using the President’s own metrics, these trade agreements could create 250,000 U.S. jobs.

Expanding U.S. Exports and Creating Economic Growth
These agreements will increase exports, lower the trade deficit and stimulate much-needed U.S. economic growth.

• The independent U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that implementation of the three pending trade agreements would increase U.S. exports by at least $13 billion and add at least $10 billion to U.S. Gross Domestic Product per year.

Helping U.S. Small Businesses
Passing all three pending trade agreements would directly benefit small and medium-sized enterprises and the U.S. jobs they create.

• In 2008, more than 80 percent of U.S. exporters to South Korea, Colombia, and Panama were small and medium-sized enterprises that exported $12 billion to those countries.

Increasing Agriculture Exports
The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that U.S. farm exports could increase by more than $690 million per year to Colombia, more than $195 million per year to Panama, and more than $1.8 billion per year to South Korea.

• The agreements ensure market access, national treatment, and regulatory transparency that exceed current standards.

Lowering Barriers to U.S. Goods
Passing the pending trade agreements would eliminate, or substantially lower, the tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. exports in all sectors and create job opportunities in the United States.

• Most imports from Colombia and Panama already enter the United States duty free, and U.S. exports to South Korea face much higher tariffs than our imports from South Korea. These agreements would level the playing field for U.S. goods and services by eliminating, or substantially lowering, the tariffs on U.S. exports to these markets.