Washington, D.C. – Congressman Doc Hastings joined Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Dave Reichert today in calling for a yes-or-no vote on pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea before Congress adjourns for the year.

“Opening new markets through trade is essential to growing our economy, creating jobs, and strengthening diplomatic ties with strategic allies,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  

On April 10, 2008, House Democrats changed the rules to block a vote on the Colombia trade deal, which has been awaiting congressional action since it was signed on November 22, 2006.  The unprecedented move wiped out a longstanding requirement in American trade law and indefinitely postponed action on the agreement. 

“The failure of this Congress to approve these trade agreements results in lost opportunities for Washington farmers, businesses and workers,” said Hastings.  “As the most trade dependent state in the nation, Washington's economy depends on fixing unfair trade practices and providing American farmers and businesses equal access to overseas markets.”  

Since 1991, many products from Colombia have enjoyed open and duty-free access into American markets due to the one-way trade concessions bill known as the Andean Trade Preferences Act.  However, U.S. exports to Colombia face steep tariffs.  In fact, many American farm exports to Colombia face an average 30-percent tariff, many of which would disappear upon approval of the Colombia agreement currently before Congress.

Immediately upon enactment of the U.S. Colombia agreement, tariffs would disappear on many Central Washington products including apples, cherries, pears, beef, potatoes, raspberries, wheat, and dairy.

“The Colombia trade agreement is about fairness for American farmers and American workers,” said Hastings.  “Colombia has one-way access into our country, which Democrats have overwhelmingly voted to give them – by passing this agreement we’d be making it a two-way street and give Americans fair access into Colombia.” 

The Colombia agreement has broad support from many in the agricultural and business community including the Washington State Potato Commission, the U.S. Apple Association, the Washington State Farm Bureau, Microsoft, Boeing, the Northwest Horticultural Council, the National Potato Council, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.

Click here to read the letter.