Rep. George Miller Statement on U.S. Trade Rep. Kirk’s Senate Testimony

“I applaud the U.S. Trade Representative for embracing the principle that trade agreements must keep faith with American workers.  Regrettably, the administration’s embrace of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which was almost entirely negotiated by the Bush administration, will result in a net reduction of U.S. manufacturing jobs, according to projections by the International Trade Commission.  

“The Trade Representative testified that the administration will ‘address concerns’ regarding violence and attacks against trade union leaders in Colombia that were ‘identified this year’ and then prepare the agreement for congressional consideration immediately thereafter.  I surely hope that the administration will do more than ‘address concerns’ about more than a decade of ruthless violence against union leaders in Colombia and demand tangible results on the ground, as verified by those who are the targets of violence, before submitting a free trade agreement with Colombia.”