Mitt Romney says Obama ` ` has not signed a new free - trade agreement '' An Obama spokesman calls that statement ` ` absurd '' and ` ` inaccurate '' Obama signed a free trade deal in 2011 , based on negotiations that began years earlier . The administration has said its goal in continuing the negotiations is to support the creation of jobs in the United States , and an increase in exports to a region that represents more than 40 % of global trade . The administration re - negotiated pacts with Panama , Colombia and South Korea .
Mitt Romney says Obama ` ` has not signed a new free - trade agreement '' An Obama spokesman calls that statement ` ` absurd '' and ` ` inaccurate '' Obama signed a free trade deal in 2011 , based on negotiations that began years earlier . The administration re - negotiated pacts with Panama , Colombia and South Korea .