Press Release

Second Bipartisan Congressional Delegation Led By Gutierrez Sees Real Economic Progress and Change in Colombia

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA—Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today concluded his second bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation visit to Colombia in recent weeks, to see the very significant progress that the country has made toward increased economic prosperity, strong democratic governance, and the protection of human rights.

“We wanted the Delegation members to see for themselves how Colombia has changed in recent years. This trip provided them an opportunity to see first hand the courageous reforms Colombians have made,” said Gutierrez. “Colombians already have free access to the U.S. market - this free trade agreement would give our U.S. businesses, farmers and ranchers the same access to the Colombian market and help create higher paying jobs here at home.”

Gutierrez led his second bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation to Colombia in a month to show the positive economic and social changes being driven by President Alvaro Uribe, a key U.S. ally. Gutierrez and the delegation met with government officials and members of the business community and civil society, including union leaders. Plan Colombia has helped to reduce violence throughout Colombia and was due to the bipartisan support of President Clinton and then Speaker Hastert; the Colombia FTA is the logical extension of Plan Colombia. The delegation visited Bogotá, Bojayá and Medellin.

The bipartisan delegation included: Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-6); Rep. Bill Sali (R-ID-1); Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA-4); Rep. John T. Salazar (D–CO-3); Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D–NY-17); and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA-7).

In Bogotá the U.S. delegation met with President Uribe and members of his cabinet to discuss the pending free trade agreement with Colombia. While in Bogotá Gutierrez addressed the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce to highlight the economic opportunities of increased trade with the United States.

Gutierrez and the delegation also traveled to Bojayá, an Afro-Colombian community on the Pacific Coast that the Uribe administration is assisting with its rebuilding efforts. Uribe’s Administration is helping to rebuild Bojayá, which was destroyed in the crossfire between rebel groups and paramilitaries in 2002, and suffered severe flooding in recent months.

The delegation also met with labor leaders to understand the Uribe Administration’s efforts to reduce violence against trade unionists and address concerns of members of Congress on human rights issues.

The visit concluded in Medellin, where Gutierrez and the delegation learned about Colombia’s plans for integrating former paramilitary members—known in Colombia as the demobilized—back into civil society and the formal economy in a visit to Santo Domingo Savio.

Also while in Medellin Gutierrez and the delegation visited a flower farm. The fresh-cut flower industry in Colombia has emerged as a sustainable alternative to drug crop production. Fresh-cut flower exports have been a major success story under the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), with exports to the U.S. valued at $450 million in 2006. The industry employs over 80,000 Colombians directly, many of whom are female heads of household, displaced persons, and/or members of the indigenous community. These flower exports enter the U.S. market duty-free, and this trade supports an estimated 150,000 U.S. jobs.