Hatch chides White House on FTA inaction

Hatch chides White House on FTA inaction    The ranking Republican of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday chided the Obama administration for its failure to move forward free trade agreements negotiated with Colombia and Panama, despite making promises to do so in 2009.

Hatch

   'The problem is a lack of political will, and a lack of political courage,' said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, in his opening remarks at the committee's hearing on the White House's trade agenda.
   'So far, the administration has talked a big game on these agreements, but when game time rolls around, they shrink from action. At some point, despite all the words, it is the administration's inaction that speaks volumes,' he said.
   'This failure to act raises strong doubts about whether the president is serious about moving these agreements at all,' Hatch added. 'Given past rhetoric, the recent promises of 'intensified engagement,' commitments to work, and being 'on track' are all fine and good. But these promises are woefully inadequate.'
   He praised the Obama administration for its recent work to settle lingering trade differences with South Korea, but said all three free trade agreements — South Korea, Colombia and Panama — should move forward together. Hatch noted that ratification of these free trade agreements have strong bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.
   'Let me be clear. If the president will not act, I will,' Hatch said. 'If the president ignores the will of Congress and sends the Korea agreement without Colombia and Panama I will do everything that I can to make sure that those two agreements are considered at the same time as Korea.'