Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell have certainly had their differences in the past.
But they’ve managed to find common ground – on a free trade agreement with South Korea.
McDonnell is currently headed to the Far East, including a stop in South Korea. He sent a letter to Connolly dated Friday urging the congressman to continue to work to win approval of the agreement “so Virginia and the nation can be even more competitive in this growing market.”
McDonnell said in the letter that Virginia’s agricultural industry in particular would stand to benefit, with nearly two-thirds of U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea gaining duty-free status if the agreement is implemented.
The agreement was signed in 2007, but still needs congressional ratification.
In response to the letter, Connolly, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, said he would inform the governor that “we are on the same page when it comes to this vital agreement.”
In addition to agricultural benefits, Connolly said, the tech-heavy Northern Virginia area could also stand to gain.
“As Gov. McDonnell knows and I know, the [Korean trade agreement] will benefit businesses and citizens in every region of our commonwealth, and that is a good thing,” said Connolly.
Ain’t bipartisanship grand?
