Washington, DC – Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement today after the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea were favorably reported out of Committee, thus clearing the way for formal consideration on the House floor:

“Today has been five years in the making and could not come at a better time for American workers, consumers and businesses.  The agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea will help create and support 250,000 American jobs and add over $10 billion to our gross domestic product – all without adding one dime in new government spending.  I look forward to the quick passage of these trade agreements and the TAA-GSP bill by the House.”

All three free trade agreements were favorably reported out of Committee on bipartisan basis.

The Colombia free trade agreement passed out of the Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 24-12.

The Panama free trade agreement passed out of the Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 32-3.

The South Korea free trade agreement passed out of the Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 31-5.