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The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) provides increased access for Georgia’s agricultural exports by making agricultural trade a two-way street and leveling the playing field with respect to third country competitors in the Colombian market. Already our largest market in South America, Colombia now holds even greater potential because it has agreed to immediately eliminate duties on 53 percent of current U.S. trade upon implementation of the agreement. The American Farm Bureau and over 40 other agricultural industry and farm groups strongly support the agreement by stating "the agreement will provide U.S. products exported to Colombia with the same duty-free access already granted to Colombian products exported to the U.S."

Exports of farm products boost Georgia’s farm prices and income. Such exports support about 16,100 jobs both on and off the farm in food processing, storage, and transportation. Agricultural exports amounted to $1.4 billion and made an important contribution to Georgia's farm cash receipts in 2006 that totaled $ billion.

Poultry. Poultry meat exports to Colombia surpassed $11.6 million in 2007. As broilers rank first in state’s cash receipts at $2.7 billion in 2006 and first in the nation in poultry products exports, Georgia’s poultry producers and processors will benefit from the CTPA.

Cotton. In 2007, the United States exported $59 million of cotton to Colombia.  Cotton export figures to Colombia are their highest since at least 1970 (in excess of $70 million), and growing. Georgia cotton farmers provide the state’s second largest source of farm cash receipts and its second-ranking agricultural export.

• Under the CTPA, Colombia will immediately eliminate the 10-percent tariff (99 percent allowed by the WTO) facing U.S. exporters.

• The CTPA provides for reciprocal elimination of all cotton duties.

• The National Cotton Council and the American Cotton Shippers Association publicly support the CTPA.

Peanuts and Peanut Products. In 2007, the United States exported $93,000 of peanuts and peanut products to Colombia. Georgia is the nation’s largest exporter of peanuts. Georgia’s growers will benefit from the CTPA.

• Colombia will immediately eliminate its 5–20-percent tariffs (155 percent allowed by the WTO) on peanuts, peanut oil and peanut butter.

• The United States will phase out its duties on peanuts and peanut butter over a 15-year period. Under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), U.S. tariffs on Colombian peanut oil imports are currently zero. The CTPA continues this zero-duty treatment.

Beef. In 2007, the United States exported $386,000 of beef and beef products to Colombia. Providing the fifth largest source of state farm cash receipts, Georgia’s ranchers and beef industry will benefit from the CTPA.

• Colombia will immediately eliminate its 80-percent duty (108 percent allowed by the WTO) on beef products most important to the U.S. beef industry—prime and choice cuts.

• U.S. exporters of standard quality beef cuts will enjoy immediate duty-free access through a 2,100-ton TRQ. The TRQ will grow by 5 percent, compounded annually. Colombia will phase out the 80-percent out-of-quota tariff over 10 years after a 37.5-percent cut at the beginning of the first year of implementation.

• U.S. exporters of variety meats (offals) will immediately receive duty-free access under a 4,642-ton TRQ that will grow 5.5-percent, compounded annually. The 80-percent over-quota tariff will be phased out over 10 years.

• Colombia agreed to continue to recognize the equivalence of the U.S. meat inspection and certification system to its own system.

• Colombian exporters of beef to the United States will receive duty-free access under a 5,250-ton TRQ that will grow 5 percent, compounded annually. The United States will phase out its beef tariffs over 10 years. For those beef lines that are already duty free under the ATPDEA, the CTPA will continue the duty-free treatment.

• The American Meat Institute; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association; U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.; and Pet Food Institute publicly support the CTPA.

Peaches. In 2007, the United States exported $1.7 million of peaches to Colombia.  Georgia’s peach producers and processors will benefit from the CTPA.

• Colombia’s current duties on peaches are 15–20-percent; under WTO rules, Colombia could raise these duties to 70 percent.

• Colombia will immediately eliminate duties on fresh and frozen peaches.

• The Grocery Manufacturers Association/Food Products Association publicly supports the CTPA.