FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2008
Contact: Alci Maldonado
Phone: 571-276-3109

OP-ED by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison: We Must Pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Respected leaders continue to express their support for the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Below please find an important and compelling opion piece by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Senator Hutchison, who is also a founding member of the RNHA National Advisory Board, describes the urgency for passing this vital trade agreement in a thoughtful and rationale manner. We must continue to pressure congressional leadership, especially Speaker Pelosi, to allow this important agreement to come to a vote. Please do your part to help our economy, our national security and our strongest ally in Latin America; contact Speaker Pelosi's office and say “Stop the political ploys and pass the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, Now”. Below is the contact information for Speaker Pelosi. Let your voice be heard for the best interests of our nation.

Nancy Pelosi
Tel: (202) 225-0100 (Speaker’s Office)
Tel: 202-225-4965 (Personal Office)
Fax: (202) 225-4188
Email: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov (Speaker’s email)
Email: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov (Personal email)

President Ronald Reagan once observed, “The way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition."

Last week, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives indefinitely blocked a vote on the pending Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Their action sends the wrong message to trade partners around the world and squanders an opportunity to help Americans shouldering the burden of unemployment and a stalling economy. Indeed, failure to ratify the FTA with Colombia denies economic growth opportunities for both the United States and Colombia , stifles competition, and undermines efforts to create a safer, more stable world.

Economically, enactment of the Colombia FTA would level the playing field and foster fair trade by removing the costly tariffs levied on U.S. exporters trying to sell their goods in Colombian markets. The U.S. International Trade Commission projects the deal would increase U.S. exports to Colombia by $1.1 billion a year, which will in turn create jobs for American workers.

In 2007, America exported high quality beef, cotton, wheat, soybeans, fruits and vegetables, and other goods to Colombia , with sales valued at $8.6 billion. While Colombia was able to export goods into the U.S. duty-free, American businesses and producers are still obligated to pay tariffs on exports to Colombia . The U.S. Trade Representative estimates that, since negotiations of the trade pact were completed in 2006, American products have been taxed nearly one billion dollars in tariffs paid to Colombia . By eliminating this inequity, producers in the U.S. will have greater access to this lucrative market.

More broadly, with the U.S. economy declining, Americans are consuming domestic goods at a slower pace. Expanding U.S. exports to international markets can help offset a downturn in domestic consumption.

The economic growth that trade can stimulate is part of a larger imperative – global leadership. If the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives successfully subverts the Colombia FTA, our nation could take a step toward an isolationist posture that is short-sighted and imprudent in a global economy. China , Russia , and India are surging into the marketplace and dominating key sectors like manufacturing, technology, and services. Though American manufactures are matchless in quality, without preferential trade agreements, our access to world markets is inhibited, and we jeopardize our competitive edge. Preferential trade pacts between our competitors in Europe, Asia, and Latin America are rapidly outpacing and outnumbering U.S. trade deals. How can we lead if we limit participation?

Countries like Colombia , which has made great strides under the administration of President Alvaro Uribe, are looking to the U.S. as an example of democratic governance and economic freedom. Fostering stable democracies through trade relationships in Latin America and other regions of the world is in our nation’s best interests. But by stalling the deal, we risk sending Colombia – and future trade partners – the message that parochial politics supersede policy.

It is reckless to imperil a partnership with Colombia when neighboring Venezuela is led by a dangerous dictator who threatens freedom in all of Latin America . We will need strong allies, like Mr. Uribe, to stand up against Mr. Chavez’s political abuse of Venezuelan oil and the terrorism he levies against our hemisphere.

The United States has an opportunity to bolster our economy, reaffirm our position as a global leader, and to build the diplomatic relationships that will help keep us safe. The time to move forward and ratify the Colombia FTA is now. Congress’ failure to consider the pact cannot be justified.

Kay Bailey Hutchison is the senior Senator from Texas.

The mission of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community, provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities, increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials, and create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders.