    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 7, 2008]
    [Pages 479-482]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement
    April 7, 2008

        Thank you. Please be seated. I want to thank the members of my
    Cabinet for joining me here today. Madam Ambassador, thank you for coming. I appreciate those who support
    free trade and fair trade for joining us on this important occasion.
        In a few minutes, I will sign a letter to Congress that will
    transmit legislation

    [[Page 480]]

    implementing the United States free trade agreement with Colombia. This
    agreement will advance America's national security interests in a
    critical region. It will strengthen a courageous ally in our hemisphere.
    It will help America's economy and America's workers at a vital time. It
    deserves bipartisan support from the United States Congress.
        During the 16 months since the Colombia free trade agreement was
    signed, my administration has worked closely with the Congress to seek a
    bipartisan path for considering the agreement. We held more than 400
    consultations and meetings and calls. We led trips to Colombia for more
    than 50 Members of the Congress. We've worked closely with congressional
    leaders from both parties, including the Speaker, Leader Hoyer, and Chairman
    Rangel, Minority Leader Boehner, Ranking Member McCrery, and Senators Baucus and
    Grassley.
        On May 10th last year, my administration and congressional leaders
    concluded a bipartisan agreement that provided a clear path for
    advancing free trade agreements, including the agreement with Colombia.
    As part of that agreement, we included the strongest labor and
    environmental provisions of any free trade agreement in history. Those
    provisions were negotiated with and agreed by, by the leadership of
    Congress--like the Democratic leadership in Congress.
        For the last 16 months, we've worked with congressional leaders to
    set a schedule for the consideration of the Colombian free trade
    agreement. While we'll continue to work closely with Congress, the need
    for this agreement is too urgent, the stakes for our national security
    are too high, to allow this year to end without a vote. By statute,
    Congress has 90 legislative days to complete action once I transmit a
    bill implementing this agreement. Waiting any longer to send up the
    legislation would run the risk of Congress adjourning without the
    agreement ever getting voted on.
        Transmitting the agreement is neither the beginning nor the end of
    our cooperative efforts, but instead an important milestone. My
    administration is eager to work with members from both parties to make
    sure the vote is a positive one. Congress needs to move forward with the
    Colombian agreement, and they need to approve it as quickly as possible.
        Approving this agreement is urgent for our national security
    reasons. Colombia is one of our strongest allies in the Western
    Hemisphere. They are led by a very strong and courageous leader,
    President Uribe. He's taken courageous
    stands to defend our shared democratic values. He's been a strong and
    capable partner in fighting drugs and crime and terror. And he's
    delivering results. The Colombian Government reports that since 2002,
    kidnapings, terrorist attacks, and murders are all down substantially,
    as is violence against union members.
        Despite this progress, Colombia remains under intense pressure in
    the region. It faces a continuing assault from the terrorist network
    known as FARC, which has seized hostages and murdered innocent folks,
    including Americans, in an attempt to overthrow Colombia's democracy.
    Colombia also faces a hostile and anti-American regime in Venezuela,
    which has met with FARC terrorist leaders and deployed troops to the
    Colombian border as a means of intimidating the Colombian Government and
    its people.
        President Uribe has stood strong
    against these threats. And he has done so with the assurance of
    America's support, because his fight against tyranny and terror is a
    fight that we share. President Uribe has told Members of Congress, as
    me--and me as well, that approving the free trade agreement is the best
    way for America to demonstrate our support for Colombia. People
    throughout the hemisphere are watching to see what the United States
    will do. If Congress fails to approve this agreement, it would not only
    abandon a brave ally, it would send a signal throughout the region

    [[Page 481]]

    that America cannot be counted on to support its friends. As Canadian
    Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said, ``If
    the U.S. turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back
    our cause far more than any Latin American dictator could hope to
    achieve.''
        Approving the free trade agreement will also strengthen our economy.
    Today, almost all of Colombia's exports enter the United States duty
    free, while American products exported to Colombia face tariffs of up to
    35 percent for nonagricultural goods and much higher for many
    agricultural products. In other words, the current situation is one
    sided. Our markets are open to Colombian products, but barriers exist
    that make it harder to sell American products in Colombia. I think it
    makes sense to remedy this situation. I think it makes sense for
    Americans' goods and services to be treated just like Colombia's goods
    and services are treated. And so it's time to level the playing field.
        As soon as it's implemented, the agreement I'm sending Congress will
    eliminate tariffs on more than 80 percent of American exports of
    industrial and consumer goods. Many products in key American sectors,
    such as agriculture and construction equipment, aircraft and auto parts,
    medical and scientific equipment, will enter Colombia duty free. If
    you're an American farmer, it's in your interest that this agreement get
    passed. After all, farm exports like high-quality beef, cotton, wheat,
    soybeans, and fruit will enter duty free. And in time, this agreement
    will eliminate tariffs on all of America's exports to Colombia.
        Level the playing field for American exporters is especially
    important during this time of economic uncertainty. Last year, exports
    accounted for more than 40 percent of America's total economic growth.
    With the economy slowing recently, we should be doing everything we can
    to open up new opportunities for growth. More than 9,000 American
    companies, most of them small and midsized businesses, export to
    Colombia. Approving this agreement will help them increase their sales
    and grow their businesses and create high-paying jobs.
        The economic effects of expanding trade in goods and services are
    overwhelmingly positive, but trade can also have a negative impact for
    some of our citizens. In those cases, government has a responsibility to
    help workers obtain the skills they need to successfully reenter the
    workforce. My administration is actively engaged in discussions on
    legislation to improve and reauthorize trade adjustment assistance
    program. We're committed to advancing the discussions as quickly as
    possible. I look forward to completing an agreement on trade adjustment
    that draws on many of the good ideas contained in bills introduced in
    the House and the Senate. I look forward to signing a good bipartisan
    piece of legislation.
        In discussions about the Colombia free trade agreement, some Members
    of Congress have raised concerns about the conditions in Colombia.
    President Uribe has addressed those
    issues. He's addressed violence by demobilizing tens of thousands of
    paramilitary figures and fighters. He's addressed attacks on trade
    unionists by stepping up funding for prosecutions, establishing an
    independent prosecutors unit, and creating a special program that
    protects labor activists. He's made clear that the economic benefits the
    agreement brings to Colombia would strengthen the fight against drugs
    and terror by creating a more hopeful alternative for the people of
    Colombia.
        If this isn't enough to earn America's support, what is? President
    Uribe has done everything asked of him.
    While Colombia still works to improve, the progress is undeniable, and
    it is worthy of our support.
        There's a clear model for Members of Congress to follow as they move
    forward with this agreement. Just last year, Congress considered a trade
    agreement with Peru that was almost identical to this one.

    [[Page 482]]

    The only difference between them is that the Colombian Government has an
    even greater economic potential because Colombia is a larger market and
    even greater national security importance because of Colombia's
    strategic location. Congress passed the Peru agreement with strong
    bipartisan support and should do the same with this agreement with
    Colombia.
        The stakes are high in South America. By acting at this critical
    moment, we can show a watching world that America will honor its
    commitments. We can provide a powerful rebuke to dictators and
    demagogues in our backyard. We can expand U.S. exports and export-
    related jobs. We can show millions across the hemisphere that democracy
    and free enterprise lead to a better life. Congress's path is clear:
    Members should have a healthy debate, hold a timely vote, and send the
    bill implementing the Colombia free trade agreement to my desk so I can
    sign it into law.
        And now I would like members of my Cabinet who are here today to
    join me for the signing of the letter.

    [At this point, the President signed the letter.]

        Thanks for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:34 a.m. in Room 450 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to
    Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. Carolina Barco Isakson. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
    remarks.