Obama touts importance of trade to US economy

President Obama touted his record on trade, the importance of increasing U.S. exports and his willingness to open up new markets for businesses in a speech on Friday in Florida. 

During a stop at the Tampa Bay port on his way to a weekend summit in Cartagena, Colombia, Obama vowed to continue improving trade relations and economic ties within the region that absorbs 40 percent of U.S. exports. 

"I’m willing to go anywhere in the world to open up new markets for American businesses," Obama said after touring the port. 

"While I'm in Colombia talking with other leaders, I'm going to be thinking about you," he told port workers. 

"I want us selling stuff and I want to put more Americans back to work."

The president's stop in Tampa is not only a recognition of the importance of the trade connections at the port but of Florida as a swing state in the November elections. 

"Everybody here knows how critical this part of the world is to our economy and to creating jobs," Obama said. 

The economies of Latin America have grown tremendously in the past decade providing U.S. businesses with a broader swath of consumers. 

"In Latin America alone, over the past decade, tens of millions of people have stepped out of poverty and into the middle class," Obama said. 

"That means they've got more money to spend, and we want them spending money on American-made goods, so that American businesses can put more Americans back to work."

Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos will meet during the three-day event, along with more than 30 heads of state during the Summit of the Americas, to discuss a wide range of issues, including the free-trade deal inked by the United States and Colombia in October 2011.

There has been some talk that U.S. and Colombian leaders may announce this weekend that the trade agreement between the two nations is ready for implementation, although senior administration officials would not confirm that would happen. 

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will spend the weekend in Colombia evaluating where the nation stands on fulfilling a plan to improve workers rights and reduce violence against labor leaders.  

Congress approved trade pacts with Colombia, Panama and South Korea in October. So far, Korea is the only deal that has been implemented. 

"Soon, there are going to be millions of new customers for American goods in South Korea, in Colombia, in Panama," he said. 

Still, some Republicans remain critical of the Obama administration's efforts to expand the trade agenda. 

Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) said Friday during a conference that the Colombia trade treaty and others had been "held hostage" by Obama because he wanted to appease the unions. 

"This president has done nothing to create or promote creation of private-sector jobs," he said.

Unions such as the AFL-CIO continue to oppose the Colombia trade deal because they remain concerned about the level of violence aimed at labor leaders, a main reason why U.S. officials have asked the nation to seek out ways to stem the longtime problem. 

The Romney campaign released a statement from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) that said Obama's "recent decision to focus on trade ... comes three years too late" and argued that Obama's "trade inaction and political calculations are part of a broader pattern of economic failures for this president."

Still, Obama has other support from Republicans — most of whom backed all three trade agreements last fall.  

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said Friday that his members are ready to work on a broader trade agenda, including a reauthorization of trade promotion authority. 

“The trade agreements we approved last year with Colombia, Panama and South Korea are good news for American businesses looking to expand the market for their goods, and they’re good news for all the American workers who benefit when those businesses are able to compete on a level playing field with workers in other countries," McConnell said in a statement. 

“Senate Republicans are ready to work with the President on an even more robust trade agenda, one which involves expanding access for American goods through new trade agreements and normalized trade relations with our democratic allies around the globe," he said. 

During the stop, Obama discussed an initiative designed to help smaller businesses export their products into the region, make it easier to get financing and link them up with foreign buyers who are interested in their products.

"We also want our small- and medium-sized businesses to have access to these markets," he said.  

"We want every business to be able to access these new markets, start exporting to these countries."