President Obama is now working to try to convince Democrats in Congress to go along with fast track authority on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP.
Supporters of the free trade agreement say it’s a necessary deal in order to open markets for a variety of products, from agricultural to automotive. But opponents say the deal stands to be another blow to American labor, which they say is already in a weakened state, thanks to previous trade agreements such as NAFTA.
One large Pacific economy which is not yet part of the TPP, but reportedly would like to be is South Korea.
Earlier this month, three people pushing for Korea’s involvement in Pacific free trade spent time in Wisconsin. Youngjae Kim is counselor for trade at the Korean Embassy in Washington; Michael Clausen is unit chief in the Office of Korean Affairs in the State Department. And the Honorable Donald Manzullo is a former Congressman from Illinois and now the CEO of the Korean Economic Institute of America.
All three discussed the importance of opening economic markets and the benefits for all countries involved if South Korea were to be invited into the TPP:
