U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

The U.S.-Colombia FTA was approved by the U.S. Congress on Oct. 12, 2011. It was approved by the Colombian Congress in 2007.

In February 2006, the United States and Colombia concluded their negotiations for a trade promotion deal. “An agreement with Colombia is an essential component of our regional strategy to advance free trade within our hemisphere, combat narco-trafficking, build democratic institutions, and promote economic development,” then U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said in a statement.

In November 2006, President Bush signed the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, sometimes referred to as the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.

In 2022, the United States exported $20.5 billion of goods to Colombia, with total trade amounting to $39 billion. The U.S. imported $18.5 billion of goods from Colombia including: oil and gas, agricultural products, primary metal manufacturing, and petroleum and coal products. The top U.S. exports included petroleum, chemicals, processed foods, agricultural products, and transportation equipment.

Colombia is an emerging economy that is providing California with a quickly expanding export market and opportunity for future collaboration. Since 2006, exports to Colombia have nearly tripled. In 2022, Californian exports to Colombia totaled over $500 million.

Per the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement offers tremendous opportunities for California’s exporters. When the Agreement entered into force, 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial exports to Colombia, including nearly all information technology products; mining, agriculture, and construction equipment; medical and scientific equipment; auto parts; paper products; and chemicals, became duty-free immediately. The remaining tariffs phased out over 10 years. U.S. farmers and ranchers also became much more competitive, benefiting from immediate duty-free treatment of 77 percent of current U.S. agriculture exports. Key U.S. agriculture exports such as cotton, wheat, soybeans, high-quality beef, apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and almonds also became duty-free upon entry into force of the Agreement. Colombia will phase out all other agricultural tariffs within 19 years.

Latin America Trade Coalition Fact Sheet

CalChamber Urges Support for Trade Agreements
Long-pending free trade agreements (FTA) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea will be considered today by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. Alert, January 28, 2011

• CalChamber’s Letter to Chairman Camp 2-7-11
• Testimony of CalChamber Member Roy Paulson, Paulson Manufacturing Corporation
• U.S.-Colombia FTA CalChamber Letter of Support
• October 2009 Letter from Colombian Ambassador

Additional Information

• A Tale of Two Farmers
• American Agriculture Falling Behind – Analysis
• FTA Sample Letter to Congress 1/10/08
• Latin American Trade Coalition
• President Bush’s Speech to U.S. Hispanic Chamber – March 2008
• Colombia Trade News
• http://export.gov/FTA/index.asp
  (U.S. govt informational website)

CalChamber Position

The California Chamber of Commerce, in keeping with long-standing policy, enthusiastically supports free trade worldwide, expansion of international trade and investment, fair and equitable market access for California products abroad and elimination of disincentives that impede the international competitiveness of California business. New multilateral, sectoral and regional trade agreements ensure that the United States may continue to gain access to world markets, resulting in an improved economy and additional employment of Americans.

Reasons for Position

This Free Trade Agreement is a critical elements of the U.S. strategy to liberalize trade through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives.

• Bilateral and regional agreements will complement the possible goal of creating a Free Trade Area of the Americas.
• The FTA will increase momentum toward lowering trade barriers and set a positive example for other small economies in the Western Hemisphere.

UPDATES

CalChamber Praises Passage of Three Free Trade Agreements
CalChamber Alert, October 14, 2011

Colombia Welcomes Signing of U.S.-Colombia FTA
Colombian Embassy, October 21, 2011

Statement from President on the Submission of the Korea, Colombia and Panama Trade Agreements
October 3, 2011

From the White House:
President Obama to meet with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos

President Obama and President Santos Meet in Oval Office

Statements of Support for the U.S-Colombia Trade Agreement

FACT SHEET: Benefits of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement

FACT SHEET: Leveling the Playing Field: Labor Protections and the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement

FACT SHEET: Trade & the U.S.-Colombia Partnership

FACT SHEET: U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement: Expanding Markets for America’s Farmers and Ranchers

From US Trade Representative:

U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement and Action Plan

Release of the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights

Statements of Support for the U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement

Additional Statements of Support for the U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement

Colombia Trading Partner Portal

Andean Trade Preference Act Extension

In December 2009, President Obama signed legislation to extend the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA).

ATPA ensures that products from several trading partners in South America continue to enter the United States duty-free. With this extension, the US is committed to continue economic growth in our hemisphere with a global system based on free and open trade. Congress extended the ATPA, ensuring duty-free access to the U.S. market for trading partners in South America, including Colombia and Peru.

The ATPA also allows for suspending trade preferences with countries that do not live up their promises. Unfortunately, Bolivia has failed to cooperate with the United States on important efforts to fight drug trafficking, so President Bush proposed to suspend Bolivia’s trade preferences until it fulfills its obligations.