South Korean trade deal could be good news for Philadelphia port

The trade agreement with South Korea President Congress passed and Obama signed could mean more business for the port of Philadelphia.  

The new U.S. South Korean trade deal could expand imports from that country that come through Philadelphia.  Dominic O’Brien of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority says the port already handles many Korean goods.

“We are importing Hyundai and Kia automobiles from Korea, last year we did 68,000 this year we are going to do 150,000, that has created a lot of jobs for South Philadelphia,” said O’Brien.  “In addition we have the SEPTA Silverliner V railcars, the raw shells are built in Korea then they come to South Philadelphia to have the electronics, the lighting the seating.”

O’Brien says once the ships are off-loaded, the owners are seeking goods to take back to Korea.

“The steamship lines like full ships going both ways full containers going both ways,” he said.  “We at the port authority like to load the ships up, that’s more jobs for our men and we like to empty the ships.”

South Korea is the 10th largest importer of Pennsylvania goods.