Chamber urges approval of U.S.-Korea free trade agreement

Chamber urges approval of U.S.-Korea free trade agreement The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday said the U.S. Congress should approve the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement on the table.
   “We should not let politics block a free trade agreement that will increase the access of U.S. companies to one of the world’s most important markets,” said Robert Reis, Chamber senior director for Korean affairs, in a statement. “If the trade deal is put into effect, it could quickly increase two-way trade, already at $79 billion a year, by as much as 20 percent.”
   Prominent lawmakers in Washington, including presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, have denounced the agreement as unfair to certain U.S. industries, specifically automakers. Trade unions in Korea and United States have also expressed concern over the sweeping deal, said to be the biggest such pact in 15 years for the United States.