CONCORD, NC – Today, Representative Larry Kissell (NC-08) continued his firm opposition to the three pending Free Trade Agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia.

“It’s absolutely absurd that Congress would rather focus on throwing away our good American industries, rather than standing up for our small businesses and working families,” said Kissell. “These deals are bad for my district, bad for American manufacturing, and are the absolute last thing our delicate economy needs. We need to be focused on promoting a Made in America agenda, not signing our livelihood away to other countries. We’ve seen the effects of bad trade deals first-hand in North Carolina, and they’ve devastated our economy—long before our current recession. I’m appalled that our government is so eager to further sign away the industries and working families that made our nation great.”

Kissell, co-chair of the House Textile Caucus, brought more than 27,000 signed petitions opposing the Korean trade deal from textile workers from across the United States to the House floor.  Thousands of the petitions were signed by people who live in North Carolina’s Eighth Congressional District.

“As a former textile worker, I’ve seen bad trade deals leave behind shuttered mills and proud workers asking for nothing more than a fair shot,” added Kissell. “I have fought these trade deals at every turn, but the flaws of NAFTA and CAFTA are also present in these three, and I promised my constituents I’d stand up for their best interests. The people of my district have had enough of government deciding who makes it and who does not, and I could not support any trade agreement that creates more jobs in Korea, China and elsewhere, than right here at home.”

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