FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2011

Ways and Means Committee Holds Hearing on Free Trade Agreements
Pending Agreements Would Expand Exports and Create American Jobs

Washington, D.C.–Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03) released the following statement today in reaction to the hearing held by the House Committee on Ways and Means regarding pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama:

“Free trade is a simple concept and a proven stimulus,” said Paulsen. “Passing these pending agreements will lead to more than a $13 billion increase in exports and thousands of new jobs in the United States. In Minnesota alone, more than 740,000 jobs depend on trade. These vital agreements are a cost-free mechanism to increase exports, grow jobs and aid in our economic recovery.”

“U.S. trade policy has been in limbo for far too long. While we’ve been waiting in the wings other countries have created trade partnerships that are causing American firms to lose their competitive edge. We must act quickly to give American businesses the same advantages as our competitor nations in Columbia, Panama, South Korea, and other markets.”

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Korea-U.S. Free Trade Working Group and co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress, please visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

###