Congressman Tom Reed this morning called for pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to be voted on within a month. “Getting people back to work is something we talk about repeatedly,” Reed said. “These free trade agreements can actually do that – they are job creators for Upstate New York.” “The trade agreements eliminate most tariffs,” Reed explained. “That will create opportunities for local agriculture, manufacturers and service providers.” –-June 27, 2011
Recently, according to an article by Bob Clark in the Olean Times Herald, Tom Reed said this:
- U.S. Rep Tom Reed said President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imported metals could help in negotiations to open markets outside the United States to Southern Tier goods, including dairy products, if negotiations are successful.
- Reed said Trump is aiming at battling a trade imbalance with China. “That type of unfair playing field has to come to an end,” Reed said, adding new trade agreements “are better than any short-term consequences this action might bring.”
- By affecting Canada, Reed said the tariffs could help kickstart negotiations to update the North American Free Trade Agreement, and open up markets for other area industry, like dairy production.
If negotiations are successful, better than any short-term consequences, kickstart negotiations–How could Tom Reed know that?
Reed said he has heard from a number of manufacturers based in the district who are not pleased with the tariff proposals.
That local manufacturers are displeased is no surprise. What is a surprise is that Tom Reed would take a position opposite to that of Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader McConnell , and his own less recent opinions.
https://reed.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspxDocumentTypeID=27&Year=2011&Month=6
