WASHINGTON – House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter today released the following statement ahead of President Obama’s meetings in Korea on pending trade deals.

“Right before President Obama departed for Asia, I talked with him by phone and encouraged him to ensure that any trade deal he agrees to creates jobs here in the United States, protects the interests of U.S. workers and opens markets to American goods. Any deal that doesn’t do that is going to be met with strong opposition from many members of Congress who are concerned about the economy and do not want any part of a Trade Agreement that was negotiated by the Bush Administration and doesn’t help domestic industries. American jobs and workers must come first.”