“President Obama is committed to moving forward trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama to grow our economy, create tens of thousands of jobs, and realise countless new economic opportunities for Americans in Georgia and across the United States,” said Ambassador Marantis. “Savannah is clearly a place positioned to seize these new export opportunities with its strong trading relationships and ambitious vision for the future.”
The US-Korea Trade Agreement will provide American farmers, ranchers, food processors and businesses they support with improved access to the Republic of Korea’s USD1 trillion economy and 49 million customers. Under the agreement, nearly two-thirds of current US agricultural exports will become duty free immediately and lower tariffs will benefit both US suppliers and Korean consumers.
“I would like to thank Ambassador Marantis for taking the time to visit the Port of Savannah – the growing gateway for American commerce and a strong economic engine for the US economy,” said GPA’s Chairman of the Board Alec Poitevint. “As the number-one US port for poultry, exporting nearly 40% of US poultry, the Port of Savannah helps drive economic recovery through exports.”
The pending trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Columbia will support tens of thousands of jobs, will help boost US exports and will support the President’s balanced trade agenda. America’s seaports are crucial to the success of these goals.
“The GPA exported 12.4% of all US containerised exports in 2010, which means one out of every eight of our nation’s export containers departed from Savannah,” said GPA’s Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “As larger vessels continue to call on the Port of Savannah, the increased global demand for exports through our terminals necessitates the efficiency and additional capacity of a deeper harbor.”