|
A bilateral free trade agreement between Colombia and the UnitedStates came to life today with the Miami arrival of 4,200 boxes offresh-cut Colombian roses, carnations, astromelias, and thedelivery of a high-end Harley-Davidson in Bogota. Six years after the agreement was first signed, both the flowersand the motorcycle entered the countries tariff-free under thebilateral pact, which is heralded by US and Colombian officials asthe start of a new era in US-Colombian relations. It is expected toboost both countries' economies. The "FTA will be a formula for growth," said Colombia's TradeMinister Sergio Diaz-Granados in a statement today. But celebrations were dampened when a bomb exploded on a busycommercial street in downtown Bogota this afternoon. Though thebombing is believed to be unrelated to the free trade agreement, itis a reminder that Colombia remains a nation trapped in the middleof an internal conflict, home to some 20,000 leftist rebels,paramilitary fighters, and drug traffickers. In light of theexplosion, President Juan Manuel Santos cancelled a planned trip tothe Caribbean port city of Cartagena. He had planned to attend theofficial send-off of a container of clothing and textiles headedfor the United States a long-awaited, and symbolic event. The long journey toward free trade The free trade agreement (FTA) was signed in 2006 but was notbrought to the US Congress for approval until last year, caught upin political wrangling between Democrats and Republicans in the US,and human rights groups in both countries. President Obama sent itto lawmakers in October 2011 and on Monday signed the decree thatput the long-stalled trade agreement into effect. American exports such as machinery, textiles, soybeans, beef,bacon, cotton, and nearly all fruits and vegetables can now enterColombia duty-free. Most Colombian products such as oil, flowers,gold, coffee, and bananas, already enjoyed duty-free access to theUS market under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act(ATPDEA). The new trade pact extends those benefits to otherproducts to cover nearly 100 percent of Colombian exports. The pact also opens the door to more investments in Colombia bothby US companies and by businesses from third nations who may wantto take advantage of the trade benefits. Colombia is the perfectplatform from which to export to the United States, saidPresident Santos. Not everyone is happy Today s bombing left two people dead and injured 24, includingformer interior minister Fernando Londono who was believed to bethe target of the bomb. Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro told reportersat the scene that the attack was an attempt to "sully the city onthe day the FTA is inaugurated." Initial speculations suggested the bombing was related to studentprotests against the trade agreement at universities in the city,which highlights the reality that not all parties are happy withthe trade pact. Human rights groups have been largely outspoken throughout the FTAprocess. Human rights advocates in Colombia and Washingtoneffectively lobbied the US Congress to use the passage of the FTAas leverage to demand Colombia address labor and human rightsviolations against union leaders. It was only after Colombia agreed to a Labor Action Plan in April2011 in which the South American nation pledged to strengthenprotection for organized labor leaders that the FTA moved forward.But according to the National Labor School (ENS), a labor unionresearch center, the Colombian government has only implemented 28out of the 37 commitments included in the labor plan, and many ofthose only partially. Labor unions now have a post-FTA agenda, says ENS presidentLuciano Sanin. This includes monitoring the application of theaction plan and the labor practices of American companies that setup shop in the country. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Glass Pendants Necklaces Manufacturer , China Handmade Glass Christmas Ornaments for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Glass Handicrafts.
Related Articles -
Glass Pendants Necklaces Manufacturer, China Handmade Glass Christmas Ornaments,
|
