http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/80103-obama-starts-new-push-on-tradeThe Obama administration is reaching out to business-friendly Democrats to win support for free-trade policies that divide the party.
The effort is part of President Barack Obama's push on trade that was launched with his State of the Union address. Obama said he wanted to double exports over the next five years as part of an effort to grow the U.S. economy.
The administration's move was reinforced by a speech this week by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on increasing exports. Locke focused on programs that could help small businesses increase their exports, as well as trade missions led by his department.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk met members of the business- friendly New Democrats Coalition on Thursday to discuss the trade agenda. The Democrats spoke to Kirk about pending trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama that have stalled in the Democratic-led Congress, according to Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.).
Moving any of those deals will be difficult because of opposition in Obama’s own party.
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