AEM and its member companies applaud Congress for taking bipartisan action on the Free Trade Agreements for Colombia, Panama and Korea. The House of Representatives and the Senate both voted on Wednesday to approve the measures which will now go to the president for his signature.

"Not only will these agreements help level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers, increasing their global competitiveness, but there is widespread agreement that these export agreements will help job growth and boost our overall economy," said Dennis Slater, President of AEM. "High tariffs on U.S. exports have stunted job growth in manufacturing and other sectors. Seeing these agreements move forward is crucial for our member companies to have the ability to compete in vital global markets."

As a critical initiative of AEM’s I Make America campaign, the association has worked directly and with industry partners urging Congress to quickly approve these long awaited agreements. "It is encouraging to see a bipartisan effort to move these through the legislative process," Slater said. "We now look forward to a presidential signature on these agreements, and seeing them quickly put into force."

About I Make America - www.imakeamerica.com
I Make America is supported by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and its 850+ member companies representing 200-plus product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. We are joined by the memberships of like-minded associations, American business owners, and citizens and local elected officials across the nation.

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) - www.aem.org
AEM is the North American-based international trade group providing innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace. AEM membership comprises more than 850 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the capitals of Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Beijing and a European presence in Brussels.