Stallman and Dooley to Congress: Pass Colombia TPA

Agriculture, food manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are predictably on board with the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. But will it get a vote in 90 days? From Bob Stallman of the American Farm Bureau Federation comes this comment:

The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased that President Bush has sent the implementing legislation for the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement to Congress. This important trade agreement is good for U.S. agriculture because it corrects an inequity that exists between U.S. and Colombian agricultural exporters.

“Currently, U.S. exports face significant tariffs or other restrictions in Colombia. Meanwhile, 90 percent of Colombian products enjoy duty-free access to the United States due to the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act, which Congress recently extended. Congressional approval of the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will clear the way for U.S. food and agricultural products to receive duty-free treatment into the Colombian market.
“The Colombia TPA is an opportunity to rectify the current trade inequity, as well as strengthen our economic ties with Colombia through greater market access. AFBF urges strong bi-partisan support for the agreement and calls on Congress to pass it without delay.”

From Cal Dooley of Grocery Manufacturers Association:
“GMA strongly supports the passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (US-CTPA) and we urge swift congressional action on passage of this agreement."