Labor Leader Gives Blessing To Korean Trade Deal

The head of the United Autoworkers expressed large support Friday for the free trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea, which Congress voted to pass earlier this week.

In an op-ed that appeared in today’s Detroit Free Press, UAW President Bob King said that the deal “will create significantly greater market access for American auto exports and include strong, auto-specific safeguards to protect our domestic markets from potentially harmful surges of Korean automotive imports.”

When the deal was first introduced back in 2007, labor officials balked over fears that it would cost American jobs and hand Korea an unfair advantage in the auto export sector. King wrote that he was one of those who initially opposed the agreement, but changed his mind after being allowed in on negotiations regarding the context of the pact.

“Unlike the 2007 negotiations with South Korea, the labor movement, and particularly the UAW, had an opportunity to be part of the 2010 discussions on strengthening the trade deal,” King said.

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