Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - April 01, 2009)

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in favor of the U.S.-Paraguay Partnership Act of 2009. I introduced this legislation earlier today along with my colleague from the Finance Committee, Senator Bill Nelson of Florida.

This legislation will do two things; it will reduce trade barriers between the U.S., and Paraguay and it will encourage continued bi-national security cooperation. Paraguay is a friendly ally in Latin America, and it is beneficial to support and empower our allies in this sometimes-hostile region of the Americas.

The U.S.-Paraguay Partnership Act will add Paraguay to our Nation's existing trade pact with four countries in the Andean region of Latin America. The Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Enforcement Act, ATPDEA, enacted in 2002, is an economic tool that provides incentives for Andean nations to grow and manufacture legitimate products in order to reduce the grip of illegal drug cultivation and trafficking.

The ATPDEA has helped reduce the flow of narcotics from Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador since its enactment. In addition to the illegal drug eradication function, the accord also fostered much greater economic cooperation between the Andean region and the U.S. Moreover, the two free trade agreements President George W. Bush negotiated and signed with Peru and Colombia were borne out of the cooperation developed by the Andean trade accord.

Paraguay is an important ally in U.S. counternarcotics efforts and is helping crackdown on terrorist financing activities in its region. The government of Paraguay recognizes the value in developing its economy by promoting legitimate alternatives to narcotics cultivation and trade. Our bi-national eradication strategy is working, and this bill will provide economic incentives to continue the fight against narco-terrorism from the ground up.

The ATPDEA is a temporary trade preferences law and is due for reconsideration later this year. I encourage my colleagues to seriously consider the merits of adding Paraguay as a beneficiary country when the ATPDEA is reauthorized. It is time to extend the benefits of the ATPDEA to the nation of Paraguay.

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