Council Says Colombia Already Benefits from ATPA, FTA Levels Playing Field for United States
Washington, DC The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released a statement, applauding Members of Congress for voting to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), which was set to expire tomorrow. The NFTC also urged the House and Senate to begin moving forward on the U.S.-Colombia FTA.
“We commend Congress for extending the Andean preferences, but Members should go a step further and begin considering the U.S.-Colombia FTA in the coming weeks,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Many goods from Colombia already enter the United States duty-free under the ATPA, but the United States does not currently enjoy those same benefits in the Colombian market. The U.S.-Colombia FTA is a mutually beneficial agreement that will eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in both the United States and Colombia.”
“In December, Congress approved the U.S.-Peru FTA, and with today’s extension of the ATPA, it is clear that Members understand the importance of the Andean nations and enhancing economic relations with our allies in the Western Hemisphere,” said Chuck Dittrich, NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives. “Colombia is a growing market for U.S. exports, from agriculture to IT equipment. Congressional approval of the FTA would send a strong signal to Colombia and the rest of Latin America that the United States is committed to fortifying our trade partnership with the region.”
Advancing Global Commerce for Over 90 Years
The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
