The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today welcomed a new agreement to eliminate tariffs on trade between the United States and South Korea.

"U.S. and South Korean officials deserve enormous credit for overcoming a number of challenges and reaching this agreement," said EIA's interim President and CEO Charlie Robinson.  "Robust international commerce is critical to our industry.  American technology companies, and the workers they employ, will benefit from this pact.  South Korea is our seventh-largest trading partner and that relationship will only grow stronger as a result of this agreement."

The U.S. exported an average of $12.7 billion worth of electronic products to South Korea each year from 2004 to 2006.

Robinson also commended U.S. trade officials for their work on a new trade agreement with Panama.  On Friday the United States Trade Representative notified Congress of the agreement, marking another step toward implementation of the pact.  "Once again, federal trade negotiators are demonstrating their commitment to opening new markets for U.S. businesses," Robinson added.