Congress Votes To Extend the Andean Trade Preference Act
February 29, 2008The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, Feb. 27, passed an extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) by voice vote. The Senate followed suit on Thursday, passing the legislation without amendment by unanimous consent. The bill, H.R. 5264, which would extend the ATPA until Dec. 31, 2008, now awaits the President’s signature.
Speaking on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, praised the House’s action, saying, “The extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today would provide a bridge while we work to secure Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and to implement the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.”
He continued, “For the past 16 years, Colombia and Peru have had almost duty-free access to the U.S. market. Last Fall, Congress took a step toward allowing U.S. exports to benefit from two-way trade by approving the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. Now, it is time for Congress to provide U.S. farmers and ranchers with duty-free access to an even larger market by approving our agreement with Colombia.”
United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab concurred, and she looked to the free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia to provide additional benefits to U.S. exporters.
“While the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) has helped generate economic opportunities in the region, we now have a chance to expand economic opportunities for hardworking American companies, farmers and workers as well,” she commented. “Passage of the Colombia FTA will level the playing field for U.S. goods and services in one of Latin America’s fastest growing emerging markets. At the same time, the FTA provides Colombia permanent and stable access to our market. Congress should seize the opportunity to support a key ally and establish a reciprocal trade partnership with Colombia by approving the FTA.”
In 1991, the U.S. Congress authorized duty-free benefits for four Andean nations (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia) under ATPA to help in their fight against illegal drug production and trafficking by expanding their economic opportunities. As part of the Trade Act of 2002, Congress renewed and enhanced the trade preferences for all four countries under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), which expired on December 31, 2006. Congress has twice extended the program, most recently until February 29, 2008.
