U.S. Chamber and Korea Business Council Call for a Renewed Focus on U.S.-Korea FTA

'Agreement is an immediate job-creating stimulus,' Brilliant says

WASHINGTON, DC—Ahead of a major speech by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today, the Chamber and the U.S.-Korea Business Council called on the administration to take action on the pending U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) in order to boost exports and create jobs in America.

"As the economy struggles to rebound, this agreement is an immediate job-creating stimulus," said Myron Brilliant senior vice president of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber and the outgoing U.S.-Korea Business Council president.

Delivering the keynote address at the U.S.-Korea Business Council's fourth annual gala dinner today and opening the Council's 22nd annual plenary meeting, Ambassador Kirk is expected to speak about the prospects for the agreement.

"Korea is one of the largest global customers of U.S. goods and services, and Korean companies are increasingly investing in the U.S. market," Brilliant said. "But the European Union recently concluded its own agreement with Korea, potentially putting U.S. exporters at a disadvantage in the Korean market and endangering U.S. jobs. This is why the Council is strongly committed to doing everything it can to gain early Congressional approval of the U.S.-Korea FTA."

The U.S.-Korea Business Council is the leading business organization promoting the bilateral relationship between the United States and Korea. The Council serves as secretariat of the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition, a group of over 800 U.S. businesses and associations that is working to secure Congressional approval of the U.S.-Korea FTA.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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