Obama Looks to Boost Trade

President Obama the free-trade guru? With a trade deficit of $37.3 billion in January, Obama unveiled a plan on Thursday to boost U.S. exports and tear down trade barriers with an eye towards combatting unemployment. "There is no question that as we compete in that global marketplace, we've got to look out for our workers," Obama said. "But to look out for our workers, we've got to be able to compete in the global marketplace." Part of the plan, which Obama said could create 2 million jobs, would include restarting negotiations on free trade agreements which could prove a hard sell with some Democrats. "Moving forward with leftover Bush-negotiated free trade agreements is a nonstarter with many members of Congress," Rep. Michael H. Michaud (D-Maine), chairman of the House Trade Working Group, said in a statement according to the Washington Post.