US electronics companies press free trade deals

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - U.S. electronic companies with combined annual sales of $160 billion urged Congress on Wednesday to approve four pending free trade agreements, which they said were vital to continued economic growth.

"Free trade has built up this industry," said Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association, which has more than 2,100 members ranging from big names like Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Intel Corp (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to hundreds of smaller companies with less $30 million in annual sales.

"We think it's absolutely critical that the U.S. maintain this strategy of free trade and continue the momentum that free trade agreements allow," Shapiro said.

Although Congress is expected to soon approve a free trade pact with Peru, many Democrats are strongly opposed to similar deals with Colombia and South Korea. They criticize Colombia's record on human rights and say the auto provisions of the Korean pact would too heavily favor Seoul.

In addition, concerns have arisen in recent weeks about a deal with Panama after legislator Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, who is wanted in the United States on charges that he killed a U.S. soldier, was elected head of Panama's National Assembly.

The CEA has decided to step up efforts to win approval of the four pacts because there is a growing perception "that free trade is not good for America," Shapiro said.

The consumer electronics industry employs around 2 million Americans "and we believe that hundreds of thousands of those jobs are based on free trade," Shapiro said.