Akhir 02, 1432 H/March 7, 2011, SPA -- The Obama administration said Monday it is ready to send a highly coveted South Korea trade deal to Congress for final approval, according to AP. The administration's top trade negotiator, Ron Kirk, sent a letter to lawmakers Monday saying he is prepared to hold discussions with them, the first step before Congress can formally approve the agreement. In the letter, obtained by The Associated Press, Kirk said he hopes talks can begin «without delay.» The move ratchets up the pressure on Republican lawmakers, many of whom support the South Korea deal, but are threatening to block its approval unless the White House also sends them pending trade deals with Colombia and Panama. Administration officials say that while they're making progress in accelerated negotiations with Colombia and Panama, outstanding issues remain, including Colombia's recognition of labor rights and protection of union leaders, and Panama's tax transparency rules. Officials say they hope to resolve those matters by the end of the year, and send final agreements to Congress shortly thereafter. But Republicans argue that the deals are ready for final approval. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, pled his party's case directly to President Barack Obama at a lunch earlier this year. If Republicans were to block the South Korea deal, it would be a major blow to the White House, which won rare bipartisan praise, as well as the backing of both the business community and labor groups, when it signed the agreement in December. The White House estimates the deal would support at least 70,000 U.S. jobs. The U.S. signed the agreement with Colombia in 2006 and the accords with Panama and South Korea in 2007. But they do not go into effect until they are approved by the House and the Senate.
