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NMPF Continues to Advocate for Passage of Pending Free Trade Agreements

August 2, 2011

During the past month, NMPF has continued to advocate for the advancement of the three pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. However, it doesn’t appear Congress will take final votes prior to the upcoming August recess.

In the month of July, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed different versions of the FTAs. The Senate Finance committee approved a bill that included the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), while the House Ways and Means Committee approved the FTAs on their own with a plan to move the TAA in parallel fashion through the House. There is still some concern on whether the House and Senate will be able to come to an agreement on the FTAs. However, several Republican Senators, including Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Rob Portman (R-OR), have secured several other Republican Senators who are committed to vote for the current FTA agreements including the TAA.