Colombia Trade Agreement Means Jobs

Press Release

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) has joined with 34 other Members of Congress urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow a vote on the trade agreement between the United States and Colombia.

"Export markets are critically important to America's agricultural and manufacturing industries. It's time to level the playing field for our nation's exporters. By our inaction, we are limiting our access to a potentially huge trading partner. Just imagine the opportunities for increased sales of Nebraska products if Congress would take steps to approve the agreement," Smith, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said.

More than 90 percent of Colombian products have enjoyed open and duty-free access to American markets, while at the same time U.S. exports to Colombia face steep tariffs, some as high as 20 percent. Immediately upon enactment, Colombian tariffs on most American products will be lifted. The Institute for International Economics estimates implementation of the trade agreement would increase the value of U.S. exports to Colombia by 44 percent.

Colombia currently has a trade agreement pending with the Canadian government, and are in negotiations with the European Union.

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