Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) on Trade: President Obama Needs to Lead

Conn Carroll / November 10, 2010

This fall the left ran millions of dollars worth of ads demonizing free trade and “foreign money.” Now President Barack Obama is in Asia negotiating the U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS) with South Korea.

The case for KORUS should be a slam dunk. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that U.S. exports would increase $10–11 billion annually, if the agreement passed. And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that approving the KORUS would lead to an increase of 250,000 jobs, while a failure to enact the agreement would lead to a loss of $35 billion in exports and a loss of 345,000 jobs.

Unfortunately the left’s protectionist rhetoric has taken its toll on Congress. From Seoul, South Korea, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) told a conference call today: (more…)