SKFTA organized Team 2010

21/36 Mariah Donnelly

SKFTA organized


*** SKFTA Good ***


1NC SKFTA Good (1/2)

1) SKFTA Passing- Obama is pushing for it

The Chosun Ilbo, 7/01/10, “Congressmen Launch U.S.-Korea FTA Working Group”, http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/01/2010070100607.html

Six U.S. congressmen including Democratic Rep. Diane Watson of California and Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois launched a Korea-U.S. free trade agreement working group in Congress on Tuesday.
The aim is to push for early ratification of the long-delayed FTA bill. U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday pledged Congress will ratify the FTA after mid-term elections in November.

2) Obama’s pol cap is key

Teresa Galli, 7/21/10, Teresa Galli is a Global Market Research Analyst at Global Marketing Associates (GMA). GMA is an international business and marketing consulting firm that helps businesses to expand globally from preparation to implementation through global online management, “The South Korea - US Free Trade Agreement”, http://ezinearticles.com/?The-South-Korea---US-Free-Trade-Agreement&id=4520289

Although riddled with the imperfections inherent to free trade agreements, the KORUS FTA represents an significant opportunity for American exporters. Furthermore, the KORUS FTA is seen as an important way to strengthen American ties to the Asian market, counterbalance South Korea's growing trade ties with China, and possibly even restore the American position as Korea's preeminent trade partner. Finally, the agreement will not only boost economic ties between the two nations, but is also strategically important for the US in shaping future Asian policies. Failure could mean a devastating blow to a key American alliance in an increasingly important region. (The Heritage Foundation). If President Obama is able to garner the political capital necessary to push the KORUS FTA through Congress, it has the potential to send American exports to new heights. However, doing so will require strength, persistence, and much compromise.

3) (Insert Plan Unpopular Link)


1NC SKFTA Good (2/2)

4) Pushing controversial issues drains Obama’s capital

Mark Seidenfeld, Associate Professor, Florida State University College of Law, Iowa Law Review, October 1994

In addition, the propensity of congressional committees to engage in special-interest-oriented oversight might seriously undercut presidential efforts to implement regulatory reform through legislation. n198 On any proposed regulatory measure, the President could face opposition from powerful committee members whose ability to modify and kill legislation is well-documented. n199 This is not meant to deny that the President has significant power that he can use to bring aspects of his legislative agenda to fruition. The President's ability to focus media attention on an issue, his power to bestow benefits on the constituents of members of Congress who support his agenda, and his potential to deliver votes in congressional elections increase the likelihood of legislative success for particular programs. n200 Repeated use of such tactics, however, will impose economic costs on society and concomitantly consume the President's political capital. n201 At some point the price to the President for pushing legislation through Congress exceeds the benefit he derives from doing so. Thus, a President would be unwise to rely too heavily on legislative changes to implement his policy vision.

5) Ratification of the South Korea FTA is key to check North Korean proliferation.

Cooper and Manyin ’07 (William and Mark, Specialists in International Trade and Finance and Asian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Congressional Research Service, “The Proposed South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA),” http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33435.pdf)

An FTA may also be viewed by some as a means to reassert the importance of a critical foreign policy and national security alliance by rising above differences that have caused the U.S.-South Korean alliance to fray recently. For example, the Bush Administration and South Korean leaders have differed over how to manage relations with North Korea. Specifically, South Korea’s “sunshine policy” of emphasizing bilateral reconciliation with North Korea generally has meant that Seoul has not supported U.S. diplomatic and rhetorical efforts to pressure North Korea, especially on North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs. The re-positioning of U.S. troops in South Korea has also generated some friction between the two allies.

6) North Korean proliferation causes an Asian arms race that concludes in global nuclear war.

Richardson ‘06 (Corey, Washington-based analyst who covered East Asian security issues as a presidential management fellow with the US Department of Defense, “The Coming East Asian Arms Race,” DPRK Studies, July 25, http://www.dprkstudies.org/2006/07/25/the-coming-east-asian-arms-race/?cat=41)

It goes like this; The U.S. pulls out of Korea, for whatever reason. South Korea predictably feels the need to beef up its security due to the absence of U.S. troops, although more from the (real or perceived) threat from Japan rather than North Korea. South Korea is also worried about Chinese designs on North Korean territory. Japan must respond to the Korean buildup, and so enhances its forces with some projection capability, which it currently lacks. This in turn causes concern in China, where Japan is viewed as a threat, although Korea is not. At some point, either Korea or Japan may consider the nuclear option, since it is too costly for them to spend scarce resources on a massive conventional build-up of equipment and forces. The other would soon follow, and East Asia would be a nuclear powder keg ready to explode over something as childish as the Tokdo/Takeshima dispute. While the details of the race and escalation of tensions can vary in a number of ways, the overall outcome would complicate security and economic matters in East Asia even without the conflict that would probably become a world war. As long as policy makers don’t forget this, the U.S. will be in Korea and Japan.


*** Uniqueness ***


SKFTA- Passing- probably 1NC Worthy

SKFTA passing now with strong bipart support- but Obama is going to have to use political capital to get key Dem’s on board

AFP, 7/20/10, “Key US senators seek progress on S.Korea trade pact”, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hwvLlw8nT8TwdFd0NzND9rvNw5Vw

WASHINGTON — A group of senior US senators offered President Barack Obama their "strong support" Tuesday as he forges ahead with a free trade deal with South Korea opposed by some of his Democratic allies. "We write to applaud your call for a prompt resolution of outstanding issues to the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) this year and to reiterate our strong support for such action," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Obama. The group included Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, Senate Agriculture Committee Blanche Lincoln, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye -- all Democrats.It also included Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee; Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee; and East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Jim Webb, a Democrat. Democratic Senators Mark Warner, Daniel Akaka, Maria Cantwell, and Mark Begich were also part of the group, which threw its weight behind Obama's vow to resolve difficult disputes holding up congressional approval for the deal. "We share your commitment to addressing the outstanding issues with the Agreement, including trade in beef and autos, and securing congressional approval in an expeditious manner," the lawmakers wrote. The group said approving the agreement would bolster ties with South Korea, and send a message to North Korea, while failure to approve the pact "could have wide-ranging repercussions for US engagement and influence" in the region. "We look forward to your prompt submission of the Agreement to the Congress, and we stand by to assist you in resolving any outstanding issues in order to ensure that this Agreement garners widespread support and is approved by the Congress in an expeditious fashion," they wrote. But organized labor, a critical support base for Obama's Democratic Party with critical November mid-term elections looming, and several Democratic lawmakers have vowed to fight the deal which they say would hurt workers. The deal would be the largest for the United States since the the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, which came into force on New Year's Day in 1994. The United States and South Korea completed painstaking negotiations in 2007 but neither nation's legislature has ratified it. Obama has ordered his administration to finalize the deal before a Group of 20 economic summit in Seoul in November so that he can present it to congress in the few months thereafter despite concerns from US cattlemen and carmakers. South Korea said in late June that it would reopen talks soon with the United States on a major free trade deal, but rejected complaints it unfairly restricts US beef and auto exports. South Korea shipped about 700,000 cars to the United States in 2007 while just 5,000 moved in the opposite direction, official figures show. Analysts in Seoul say the figures exclude more than 125,000 vehicles made by a General Motors subsidiary in Korea while including vehicles made by a Hyundai plant in Alabama. The free trade deal has also stirred some controversy in South Korea due to public fears over the safety of US beef. Despite angry protests from farmers and activists, South Korea in 2008 agreed to ease restrictions imposed over fears of mad cow diseases and to resume imports of beef from US cattle aged less than 30 months.


SKFTA- Passing

Obama pushing SKFTA —but its going to be a fight-- he needs to get his party on board

The Chosun Ilb, 7/09/10, “Obama Urges Progress on Korea-U.S. FTA”, http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/09/2010070900354.html

U.S. President Barack Obama has called for early ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement bill to create more jobs at a time when many members of his party take a negative attitude toward the FTA.
At the President's Export Council at the White House on Wednesday, Obama expressed hope of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years, urging ratification of the FTAs with Korea, Panama and Colombia.
He said the trade pact with Korea is "an agreement that will create new jobs and opportunity for people in both of our countries." "I’ve instructed U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to begin discussions to help resolve outstanding issues ... before my visit to Korea in November," he added.
In a report Wednesday, the White House estimated that the Korea-U.S. FTA will support US$10-11 billion in exports and an estimated 70,000 jobs. If Korea's non-tariff barriers are lowered and America's exports of services increase, the U.S. will gain more even benefits from the FTA, it said.
In the press briefing, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs made it clear that the car portion of the FTA will be a key point on the agenda in follow-up Korea-U.S. talks. "I think the reason -- one of the reasons we still see outstanding issues -- and we talked about this in Toronto -- were some of the auto provisions in" the FTA, he said.


SKFTA – Passing

SKFTA Passing now- Obama just has to persuade 39 more representatives

Doug Palmer, 7/22/10, Reuters, “Democrats ask to meet Obama on Korea trade concerns”, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66L6BN20100722?type=politicsNews

"At a time when our economy is struggling to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression, it is unthinkable to consider moving forward with another job-killing FTA," the 110 members of the U.S. House of Representatives said in a letter to Obama. The letter underscores the battle Obama faces within his own party unless he persuades South Korea to make substantial changes to the agreement it negotiated three years ago with the administration of former President George W. Bush. Obama has said he wants to resolve outstanding concerns with the pact by November so he can submit it to Congress by early next year, a move welcomed by House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer. U.S. trade official have identified two main issues blocking the pact: South Korea's restrictions on imports of U.S. beefs, and auto trade provisions of the pact that critics say favor South Korean automakers too much. But in their letter, the 110 House Democrats made clear they had a longer list of concerns. "We oppose specific provisions of the agreement in the financial services, investment and labor chapters because they benefit multi-national corporations at the expense of small businesses and workers," they said. "And we strongly object to the non-tariff barriers to the Korean market that numerous U.S. industries -- including the auto, beef and textile sectors -- will continue to face even as their Korean counterparts receive virtually total access to the American market," they said. The letter was signed by many top Democrats including Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, Rules Committee Chairman Louise Slaughter, Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller. They said they want to meet with Obama to discuss their ideas for improving the Korean trade deal, and the U.S. negotiating model for future free trade agreements. There are 255 Democrats and 178 Republicans in the House. It takes a simple majority, or 217 votes currently, to pass a trade deal. Most Republicans are expected to support the Korea agreement if it comes to a vote.


SKFTA- Passing

SKFTA Passing key senators are on board—but there still is opposition

Mary Swire, 7/27/10, “US Senators Divided On FTA With South Korea”, Tax-news, http://www.tax-news.com/news/US_Senators_Divided_On_FTA_With_South_Korea____44482.html

Several US senators have sent a letter to President Obama, giving their support to his decision to proceed with the South Korea-United States free trade agreement (KORUS FTA), while two others have expressed their concern. Nine Democrat senators, including Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry and East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Jim Webb, together with Joe Lieberman, an Independent, have endorsed the President’s call for a prompt resolution of outstanding issues to the KORUS FTA. In a letter to President Obama, the senators argue that it is in the economic and security interests of the US to move forward on it. In the letter, they emphasize that “the KORUS FTA is an agreement between two mature economies, and has the potential to strengthen commercial and trade ties between our countries. New export opportunities can generate good-paying American jobs and contribute to our economic recovery. Critical sectors of the US economy, including manufactured goods, technology, services, and agriculture, will grow through expanded trade with our seventh-largest trading partner.” They confirm that “we share your commitment to addressing the outstanding issues with the agreement, including trade in beef and autos, and securing congressional approval in an expeditious manner.” “President Obama has made clear he wants to work with our ally South Korea to resolve legitimate concerns and smooth the way for passage of the trade agreement. This is an important step in meeting the President’s goal of doubling American exports over the next five years to create good American jobs,” said Senator Kerry. “When Seoul hosts the G-20 meeting this November,” he continued. “I am optimistic that the US will be able to point to substantial progress on the KORUS FTA as an example of America’s re-engagement with the region.” “The US, South Korea, and all of East Asia stand to benefit from the implementation of this agreement,” Senator Webb added. “I support the President’s decision to resolve the concerns of a few key industries by November, and I will do my part in the Senate to ensure that it is approved.” However, two Democrat senators and members of the President’s Export Council, Debbie Stabenow, from Michigan, and Sherrod Brown, from Ohio, sent a letter to the President expressing concerns over the effects of the KORUS FTA, and urged him to “drive a hard bargain with South Korea” in any agreement in order to combat unfair trade practices and protect American jobs and innovation. Their view, in the letter, is that the US needs “trade agreements that increase market access to US goods so that we are exporting products, not jobs. At the same time, we must initiate more enforcement cases that target the most pressing barriers facing American workers and businesses.” “As it stands, the KORUS FTA falls short of the new course that the Administration has advocated—a path that would ensure strong labour, safety, and environmental standards; open up Korea’s markets to support good American jobs, including in auto manufacturing; ensure a fair investment environment while not exposing taxpayers from liabilities due to investor-state provisions; and contain robust mechanisms for enforcement,” the senators continued. “We respectfully request that your Administration work closely with Congress to address concerns about the contents of this agreement, as well as concerns about the broader trade policy framework.”