White House pushing approval of South Korea trade deal by July

Kirk said if the EU’s trade deal with Korea was to go into effect before the United States finalizes its own agreement, it would give EU manufacturers “a huge competitive advantage.”

Kirk and others in the Obama administration have worked hard to build a coalition in support of the trade deal. Powerful business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers have come out in support of the deal, and prior opponents like the automaker Ford are also now on board. 

To help win automakers’ support, the White House renegotiated the deal and won some concessions from the Koreans. For example, tariffs on Korean cars will be phased out over five years instead of being eliminated immediately. In addition, Korean environmental and safety rules will be changed to allow U.S. cars to enter their market.

Changes like that also helped split labor, which traditionally opposes trade agreements. The United Auto Workers (UAW) and the United Food and Commercial Workers are supporting the trade deal, while the AFL-CIO and other labor groups are against. 

Kirk praised House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), the panel’s ranking member, as well as Chrysler, Ford and UAW President Bob King for being honest brokers in the trade negotiations. 

Kirk said he had to give “a lot of credit to Bob King.”

“Both sides said, ‘If you can achieve these things, we will stand up with you,’ ” Kirk said. “And when we did, I’m telling you, Bob King was absolutely courageous in saying ‘We asked you to achieve these things and you did. Now I will stand up and support you.’ “