Related Info

Articles
External Files
Websites
1. American Friends Service Committee
  Visit the American Friends Service Committee to learn more about U.S. organizing around the FTA with Colombia.
2. International Labor Rights Fund
  Visit the International Labor Rights Fund to learn more about the impacts of global trade on Labor rights.
3. OxFam America
  Visit OxFam America to learn more about Free Trade.
4. Public Citizen
  Visit Public Citizen to learn more about global free trade agreements and the FTA with Colombia.
5. Red Colombiana de Acción Frente al Libre Comerico y ALCA
  Visit Red Colombiana de Acción Frente al Libre Comerico y ALCA to learn more about Colombian organizations working against the FTA with Colombia. Documents in Spanish available.

Free Trade

After nearly four years of negotiations, President Alvaro Uribe and President Bush signed a bi-lateral Free Trade Agreement in November of 2006. The agreement, however, is pending congressional approval. The accord calls for a stronger flow of exports and imports between the two nations as well as more development in Colombia. Although the pending FTA between Colombia and the United States will benefit some sectors, it is likely that it will adversely affect small farmers in areas of the country that lack basic infrastructure necessary to successfully export. These farmers–who tend to be located in conflict zones and who have already been oppressed by the ongoing armed conflict–will certainly not be able to compete domestically with exports from the United States.

Moreover, the proposed FTA largely ignores the adverse impacts on human and labor rights. Colombia is already the country with the most murders of trade unionists – more than the rest of the world combined. As a result, labor unions and workers’ capacity to organize for just wages and full benefits have been severely weekend in Colombia. Colombian and U.S. civil society groups have opposed the proposed FTA because if fails to include conditions that will result in respect for labor rates, a lessening of violence against unionists, and complete justice in any such cases.

It is also argued that development projects conduced by multinationals and U.S. companies will only cause further displacement and poverty. Although President Bush strongly supports the initiative, the Democrats in the US Congress have opposed the current FTA. There has also been vehement opposition in Colombia over several issues, such as the harsh drug patent regulations and agricultural terms – which the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture has stated will contribute to more drug production and trafficking.

The USOC is committed to facilitating information that frames the debate over any FTA with Colombia in the context of human rights, respect for territorial rights and labor rights for U.S. and Colombian workers.

The U.S. Office on Colombia is an independent non-profit organization, not affiliated with any political party, that seeks to educate U.S. policymakers, the media and the U.S. public about the impact of U.S. policy on Colombia.