[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 96 (Thursday, June 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REAFFIRMING FRIENDSHIP AND ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
                                COLOMBIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

  Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding and for 
the introduction of this very timely resolution. Last weekend, in a 
free and open democratic process, Colombia elected a new President. The 
people of Colombia should be commended for continuing their long 
tradition of democracy.
  President-elect Santos is a strong U.S. ally who will continue 
Colombia's efforts to strengthen the rule of law, restore peace and 
stability, and promote economic growth for all Colombians. Colombia's 
progress is undeniable and its workers are safer now than ever before.
  So, while we should be reaffirming our alliance today, we should also 
be strengthening that alliance by passing the U.S.-Colombia Trade 
Promotion Agreement. The United States already offers Colombia almost 
total duty-free access to the U.S. market, yet American exports face 
significant tariffs entering the Colombian market. The U.S.-Colombia 
Trade Promotion Agreement would lift these barriers and level the 
playing field, increasing U.S. exports by at least $1 billion.
  The Administration and Congressional Democrats have instead allowed 
this agreement to languish and this valuable ally to twist in the wind. 
As a result, U.S. employers have paid over $2.8 billion in unnecessary 
duties on American exports to Colombia. Those duties would vanish under 
the agreement and would allow U.S. employers to use this cash to create 
new job opportunities.
  But that's not the worst of it. In disregarding our agreement, the 
Administration and Congressional leadership have allowed other 
countries to race ahead of us, giving foreign workers a competitive 
advantage.
  American farmers are already experiencing the ramifications of this 
inaction. U.S. farmers have lost millions in potential exports to 
Colombia; those sales are instead being made by farmers in Argentina 
and Brazil, because those countries already have an agreement in place 
with Colombia.
  The damage to American workers and farmers will only get worse if 
Colombia's agreements with Canada, the EU, and others go into effect 
before our agreement. There is absolutely no reason for this to happen. 
The U.S.-Colombia agreement was signed over 1,300 days ago. The United 
States had a huge head start that the Administration and leadership has 
willfully conceded. For over a year now, the Administration has 
promised to find a way forward on this Agreement and present Colombia 
with the list of things it needed to do. The Colombians are still 
waiting for that list.
  If the Administration is serious about doubling exports and creating 
jobs, it must to do what's necessary to bring this Agreement up for a 
vote.

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