December 22,2010

Grassley: Disappointing Lack of Progress on Trade Agenda

M E M O R A N D U M

To:       Reporters and Editors
Fr:        Jill Gerber for Sen. Grassley, 202/224-6522
Re:       Passage of ATPA and TAA Extension Bill
Da:       Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over international trade, made the following comment about today’s passage of legislation to extend by six weeks the Andean Trade Preference Act and the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.

“This is a modest but welcome step that will preserve important benefits for U.S. workers and our allies in Colombia.  I regret that this Congress didn’t do more.  We’re ending the session with much unfinished business on the trade agenda.  I hope the 112th Congress will do a better job addressing these many items, beginning with the implementation of our three pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.”