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05 June 2007
Top U.S. Trade Official Urges Approval of Colombia Trade Pact
Schwab says U.S. must support President Uribe’s efforts to curb violence
Washington -- Concerns about violence in Colombia should not be used as an excuse by the U.S. Congress to hold up approval of a free-trade agreement (FTA) with that country, says U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
Schwab, in June 4 remarks to a women’s group in Washington, said the Bush administration is encouraging Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe to take additional steps to curb violence. But, she added, it is important that the United States does not "rebuke a leader making a difference."
"We must encourage those who offer a positive alternative to anti-democratic, anti-market regimes such as those in Venezuela and Cuba," Schwab said.
The free-trade agreement with Colombia is the largest of three Latin America FTAs awaiting congressional approval.
Under an agreement reached between the administration and Democratic congressional leaders, those FTAs and one signed with South Korea need to be amended to reflect stronger emphasis on labor and environmental standards. (See related article.)
Schwab said she hoped Congress would take up the free-trade agreement with Peru before it recesses in August. The administration will work closely with that country to make changes in that FTA, which already has been approved by Peru's legislature, she added.
Another FTA with Panama is expected to be signed in June, she said.
Schwab indicated that Congress would not approve a free-trade agreement with South Korea unless that country completely opens its market to all U.S. beef exports.
In April, South Korea said it would respect a report by the World Animal Health Organization confirming that U.S. beef is safe, Schwab said.
The South Korea agreement is the most "commercially significant" FTA the United States has negotiated in 15 years and "advances the strategic imperative for the United States to increase its economic footprint in Asia," Schwab said.
Separately, on June 4, the United States proposed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that certain trade-distorting subsidies be prohibited.
"It's time to take the next step in the development of stronger WTO rules that will rein in the use of industrial subsidies," Schwab said in a press release. These subsidies, she said, support inefficient production capacity in industries ranging from steel to semiconductors.
A transcript of Schwab's remarks as prepared for delivery and the full text of a press release on the U.S. proposal on trade-distorting subsidies are available on the USTR Web site.
For more information on U.S. policies, see USA and the WTO.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
