Passing trade deals is something that "Congress can do right now," President Obama remarked on Aug. 16 at a town hall meeting in Cannon Falls.
Not so fast. The truth is that Congress can't do anything on free trade agreements "right now," because the president has yet to send the agreements to Congress for final approval, despite receiving recommendations on them from Congress on July 7.
The president often mentions that in January 2009 he inherited a very difficult economic environment.
He also inherited three negotiated and signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Korea, Colombia and Panama. The only step left for the Obama administration was to submit the agreements to Congress for ratification -- a step yet to be taken.
But that is something the president could and should do "right now."
The president likes to talk about "creating jobs and stimulating the rural economy."
If the administration continues to sit on these trade agreements, as it has since Obama took office more than two and a half years ago, then Congress will be left in the "do nothing" position on free trade agreements, having never been afforded the opportunity by the Obama administration to ratify the pacts that will expand U.S. trade opportunities abroad and create more jobs at home.
Results of an impact study coordinated by the American Meat Institute highlight the high opportunity costs and job creation potential at home resulting from full implementation of these FTAs.
