Trade or Fade?

by Meredith Fensom

Will the United States trade or fade?  The choice is ours. We need to bring the Colombia FTA to a vote.  Three years is too long to wait – let’s level the playing field for U.S. exporters and create jobs here at home.

Agriculture provides a great example of the benefits this agreement will bring.  Colombia is already an important market for America’s farmers and ranchers, despite the fact that our exports are burdened by high tariffs.  In 2007, the United States exported a record $1.2 billion of agricultural products to Colombia.  Our top exports to the market were coarse grains, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and fresh fruit.

Currently, no U.S. agricultural exports enjoy duty-free access to the Colombian market; while under the Andean Trade Preference Act, over 99.9 percent of Colombia’s agricultural exports enter the U.S. market duty free.

The American Farm Bureau Federation predicts that this agreement, once fully implemented, could provide $910 million in gains each year for American agriculture.  In addition, the free trade agreement with Colombia is supported by over 40 U.S. agricultural and food associations.

Failing to move on the Colombia FTA is worse than just forgoing a new opportunity.  We are falling behind.  Other countries are gaining advantages over the United States as the U.S. Congress delays on considering this agreement.  As the third anniversary of the signing of the U.S. – Colombia Free Trade Agreement passes, Canada is preparing to ratify its FTA with Colombia and the EU is deep in negotiations for their own FTA with Colombia.  Just last week, Colombia began implementing FTAs negotiated with Central American countries.

Colombia is seeking engagement with the wider world and is the United States’ closest partner in South America.  We have an economic interest in this agreement.  We also have a strategic partnership with Colombia that involves our security interests.  Let’s hold a vote on this mutually beneficial agreement.

Meredith Fensom is a Manager at Allen F. Johnson & Associates

Comments

[Will Wakeman]

FYI. I intend to fight the Chamber with every tool at my disposal. When 45000 Americans die every year from lack of decent healthcare, when our planet is dying from excessive carbon emissions, when our families are strapped and prevented from taking paid leaves for family emergencies, when our Unions are being undermined by the greed of Corp. Boardrooms, CEOs, our corrupt US Chamber of Commerce in collusion with Wall Strret... NOW is the time for ALL Americans to rise up to Groups like the US Chamber of Congress striving for their selfish special interest agenda AGAINST America!