Support Free Trade

The Chamber knows that no region will benefit more from free trade with these two nations than Southern California. Unfortunately, more than two years after both agreements were signed by negotiators, neither has been ratified by Congress.

Colombia buys approximately $200 million in goods from the Los Angeles Customs District. We are confident that without trade barriers and gradual elimination of duty rates, this number will be larger in years to come.

South Korea buys over $10 billion from our region, making this country L.A.’s third largest trading partner, after China and Japan. The Free Trade Agreement with Korea is the most important trade agreement negotiated by the United States since 1994. This agreement is of strategic importance for the United States in commercial, economic and political matters in the Pacific Rim.

An increase trade with Korea and Colombia, through our ports, will indeed help create more exports and more jobs here at home. The Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and the Los Angeles World Airports constitute the nation’s premier gateway to Asia and Latin America, and are part of the largest Customs District.