Press Release

Secretary Gutierrez Statement on House Passage of U.S.-Peru Deal

LOS ANGELES—Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez issued the following statement applauding the House of Representatives passage 285 to 132 of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.

“I commend the House of Representatives for its overwhelming support of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, which removes barriers to U.S. exports so American workers, farmers and businesses can compete and win in the Peru market. Congress has for years given Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia special duty free access to the U.S.-market – today they are giving U.S. exporters, farmers and workers similar access to Peru. I am hopeful that the Congress will give our workers, farmers and businesses the same access to Colombia, Panama and Korea.

“Free trade agreements are a proven way to increase exports of U.S. goods and agriculture. Our exports to Latin American countries with which we have an FTA are up by nearly 60 percent since 2001.

“Now is the time to pass the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea in order to give American business the additional tools needed to expand and grow. The Administration has worked hard, and in a bipartisan fashion, to promote U.S. exports. We look forward to working closely with Congress to continue this record of success for the American people by passing pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea.”

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is returning from Vietnam where he led 22 American companies on the first-ever Cabinet Business Development Mission to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.