Groups with exporting member companies tout benefits, but debt ceiling crisis may not leave enough time and space for action. Even as the debt ceiling stalemate and continuing high unemployment rate continue to dominate economic news, associations across several sectors say that a much less publicized issue—progress on free trade agreements—could be a key component of their members’ future financial success. Three bilateral free trade agreements, forged with Panama, Colombia and South Korea, are now under consideration in Congress. If approved, the agreements would reduce or eliminate tariffs on U.S. exports to those nations (in exchange for the U.S. doing the same), a… Read More