Mike Levin: “today, as co-chairman of the Senate Auto Caucus, I am submitting with my colleague and Auto Caucus co-chairman, Senator…”

“today, as co-chairman of the Senate Auto Caucus, I am submitting with my colleague and Auto Caucus co-chairman, Senator Voinovich, a Concurrent Resolution urging Korea to remove its automotive trade barriers to U.S. automotive exports. Our resolutions urges the Republic of Korea to immediately end practices that have restricted market access for U.S. made automobiles and auto parts and meet the letter and spirit of the commitments it made in the 1998 Memorandum of Understanding in Automotive Trade. An identical Resolution is being submitted in the House by the co-chairmen of the House Auto Caucus. I call on both chambers to act swiftly to pass this important measure and send a strong signal to the Government of Korea that it's time to remove these trade barriers. The Senate and House Auto Caucuses have worked hard to bring attention to the rapidly increasing automotive trade deficit between the United States and South Korea. We have urged our Government to make it a priority to remove barriers to competitive U.S. automotive exports to Korea. It is a matter of simple fairness and American jobs. When it comes to automotive trade between the United States and Korea, the numbers speak for themselves. Korea has the most closed market for imported motor vehicles in the developed world with foreign vehicles making up less than one half of one percent of its total vehicle market.”