Erik Paulsen: “I thank the chairman for his leadership because this is an exciting day, an important time for our economy. I strongly…”

“I thank the chairman for his leadership because this is an exciting day, an important time for our economy. I strongly urge passage of all three of these long-stalled free trade agreements which will promote exports, with new sales to new customers, giving our economy more jobs. And while some in Washington have put these trade agreements on the back burner, other countries have been moving full- speed ahead on trade. The European Union signed their own agreement with South Korea, which put American companies at a disadvantage in one of the great emerging Asian markets. Standing still on trade is moving our economy backwards. Mr. Speaker, passing the South Korea trade agreement is the quickest and most effective way to level the playing field for American companies, small, medium, and large. One of Minnesota's major employers with lots of jobs connected to trade is 3M, which manufactures everyday products from Post-It notes to Scotch tape to road signs to medical devices. South Korea is this company's fourth-largest export market, and the passage of this trade agreement will lower the duty rate levied on these American products by $20 million. This is about selling American. This will free up additional capital to create new jobs and reinvest in innovation and research and development to create new products. Mr. Speaker, we must remain focused on creating jobs and helping our economy.…”