Colombia Free Trade Agreement goes to Congress

Jason Houk, 07.04.2008 15:55

Citing national security needs, President Bush sends his Colombian Free Trade agreement to Congress on Monday. President Bush says Colombia has made enough progress to warrant a free trade agreement, but Democrats strongly oppose to the plan. Congress has 90 days to vote on it.

"Free" Trade Is Not Free

In remarks to his cabinet, Bush pushed Congress to aprove his trade agreement, "Congress needs to move forward with the Colombian agreement, and they need to approve it as quickly as possible."

Bush went on to stress his desire for quick ratification. "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."

Few words mentioned the violence against labor and union organizers where over 2,000 labor advocates have been assassinated in Colombia, and the rate of impunity for the murder of trade unionists remains over 97 percent.

Citing Colombian government reports, Bush claims that,"... kidnappings, terrorist attacks and murders are all down substantially, as is violence against union members."

Despite these assurancess the International Trade Union Confederation reports: "...there has been no let up in the murders, attempted murders and death threats in Colombia and that the authorities appear to be no nearer to carrying out a full investigation into the crimes committed almost daily against the trade union movement."

By statute, Congress has 90 legislative days to complete action. "Waiting any longer to send up the legislation would run the risk of Congress adjourning without the agreement ever getting voted on. " Bush warns.

TAKE ACTION:

It’s not too late to stop the Bush administration’s mission of expanding NAFTA to Colombia—but only if we can get our Members of Congress to take a stand! Please call your Members of Congress and urge them to publicly oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and the Bush administration’s entire trade agenda.

Rep. David Wu (D-1st): 202-225-0855
Rep. Greg Walden (R-2nd): 202-225-6730
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-3rd): 202-225-4811
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-4th): 202-225-6416
Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-5th): 202-225-5711

Sen. Ron Wyden (D): 202-224-5244
Sen. Gordon Smith (R): 202-224-3753

Live outside Oregon? Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Member of Congress.

e-mail:: jason@kskq.org
Homepage:: http://www.sojwj.org

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Six Good Reasons to Oppose the Colombia FTA 07.04.2008 - 15:57 Weakened Food Safety: U.S. Food & Drug Administration data shows that Americans are three times more likely to be exposed to dangerous pesticide residues on imported foods than domestic foods. The Colombia FTA does not require imported food to meet the same high production standards as those in the United States, and actually opens the door to safety regulations being challenged as “barriers to trade.” Human Rights Violations: Trade cannot be “free” when workers are denied their basic freedom of speech and assembly. Since 1991, 2,283 labor advocates have been assassinated in Colombia, and the rate of impunity for the murder of trade unionists remains over 97 percent. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has found that several of Colombia’s labor laws violate international standards, and that the country routinely fails to enforce the positive labor laws it has on the books. Environmental Degradation: Like past trade agreements, the Colombia FTA makes it easier for transnational corporations to conduct dirty “rip and ship” resource extraction in some of the planet’s most biodiverse rainforests. The Colombia FTA also gives foreign corporations the right to challenge U.S. environmental protections as “barriers to trade.” Continued Job Loss: Oregon has lost an estimated 68,000 jobs due NAFTA and similar trade policies. Expanding this model of trade to Colombia will make it easier for U.S. corporations to shift jobs to abroad to take advantage of weaker labor and environmental standards. Threats to U.S. Sovereignty: The Colombia FTA allows foreign corporations to challenge food safety regulations, responsible land use decisions, environmental safety initiatives and other public health policies as “barriers to trade” through closed trade tribunals that circumvent the U.S. judicial system. Under NAFTA alone, more than 40 complaints, seeking $28 billion in damages, have already been filed against existing public policies. Increased Poverty Abroad: Like NAFTA and CAFTA before it, the Colombia FTA is expected to increase rural poverty by forcing small Colombian farmers out of business with subsidized food imports from U.S. agribusiness. The Colombian Ministry of Agriculture warns that this will lead to an increase in coca production, drug trafficking and illegally armed groups. The loss of farming jobs in Colombia will also undoubtedly push many families into the migration flow. For more info visit the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign:  http://www.citizenstrade.org/orftc.php Jason> Homepage:: http://www.citizenstrade.org/orftc.php