At a time when Congress and the president should have a laser-like focus on creating jobs, they appear poised to approve three new free-trade agreements that will actually force the loss of jobs by continuing all the mistakes made with NAFTA.

Mainers already know what kind of damage NAFTA did to the manufacturing sector. The pending agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia will cause more jobs to be lost at the worst possible time for Maine’s economy.

The Korea Free Trade Agreement will likely cause the greatest harm by increasing the overall trade deficit. That will lead to further job losses in Maine and across the United States.

The Colombia Free Trade Agreement would reward a country with a horrendous track record of violence against trade unionists that has persisted in the past year, despite a labor action plan signed by both presidents.

Trade agreements must be fair to working people, both here and abroad. U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree have been quick to spot what a terrible blunder it would be to ratify the three trade deals, while Sen. Olympia Snowe has taken a strong stand against the Korea and Colombia Free Trade Agreements.

Sen. Susan Collins must stand with the rest of the Maine delegation by voting against more unfair trade agreements that hurt Maine workers.

Douglas Born, Auburn