Passage of free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia

Senator Chuck Grassley made the following comment about Senate passage tonight of free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia.

"Exports have an important part to play in the economic recovery effort.  Private sector employers need an international trade agenda that opens new doors to sell U.S. agricultural goods, manufactured products and services.  These votes in the Senate are a very important step in the right direction, but they were delayed unnecessarily for years, and the rest of the world is moving ahead without us.  We're more than capable of increasing exports, but we need the markets to do it.  The President has said he wants to double exports.  In order to reach his goal and to do everything possible to generate economic activity and opportunities in the United States, the administration needs to move forward on other job-generating trade initiatives without delay."