Clinton tells Koreans she is confident of FTA passage

The Korea free-trade agreement was stalled for years due to congressional Democratic opposition. President Obama oversaw a renegotiation of the pact in December that earned it auto industry and union support. 

Since that time it has been congressional Republicans that have been holding up consideration, as well as renewal of the lapsed Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act and Generalized System of Preferences trade programs. 

Republicans want the Korea FTA implementing bill to be packaged together with bills implementing the stalled Colombia and Panama free-trade agreements. Last week, the administration and Colombia agreed on an action plan to end anti-union violence there, and this week Panama’s National Assembly passed tax and labor law changes that are seen as the last obstacles to the Panama FTA being approved here.

Observers expect a package of trade votes before summer recess.