A bipartisan handful of senators have introduced legislation to support Congressional passage of several pending U.S. free trade agreements and calls to end anti-competitive supports for the country's sugar manufacturing industry.

Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Joseph Lieberman, I.-Conn., proposed the so-called 2011 Creating American Jobs Through Exports Act, which calls for congressional passage of U.S. free trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. The bill would also reinstate President Obama's trade negotiating authority.

"Passage and adoption of the three pending trade agreements would be an immediate action to spur economic growth by opening up markets for U.S. businesses," said Portman.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., announced the Stop Unfair Giveaway and Restrictions (SUGAR) Act.

"The sugar support program costs consumers $4bn a year to disproportionally benefit a limited group of wealthy sugar producers," Shaheen said. "We must stop sugar's sweet deal."

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