FTA With USA Has Harmed Colombia, Senator Says

[Catherina]

FTA With USA Has Harmed Colombia, Senator Says

Bogota, May 13 (Prensa Latina) A year after the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States came into effect, the balance for Colombia is negative: we export less and import more, affirmed senator of the Alternative Democratic Pole Party Jorge Enrique Robledo.

...

Robledo underlined the existence of three pressing topics: stop the FTA negotiation, renegotiate or denounce the already signed agreements and implement a state-backed policy for national agriculture and industry.

During his analysis, published at the Senate's website, the legislator quoted reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which show that from June 2011 and March 2012, when the FTA had not yet come into effect, Colombian agricultural imports reached 1,042,914 tons.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the sales of Colombian products to the U.S., 10 months after the FTA was implemented in March 2013, dropped 18 percent in comparison with the same period in 2012.
However, products imported from the U.S. increased 9.31 percent, proving that the FTA has damaged the trade balance between both countries.

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1407291&Itemid=1

[mitchtv]

1. hmm

Usually it's bad for all

[Catherina]

2. I'm glad countries and its citizens are waking up to this scam

Last edited Tue May 14, 2013, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Free trade... Flood a country with rice for profits and then apologize 10 years later with a *whoopsie*

...

While the governments of Colombia and the U.S. celebrate the first anniversary of a free trade agreement between the countries, government statistics show there is little to celebrate for Colombian exporters who saw exports drop 13%.

According to Colombia’s statistics agency DANE, Colombian exporters sold a total 0f $16.8 billion in products and services to U.S. importers between June 2012 and March 2013. The year before this was $19.2 billion.

The drop in exports is contrary to promises made by the Colombian government. Days before the implementation of the free trade agreement on May 15 last year, Trade Minister Sergio Diaz-Granados said his ministry estimated a 10% increase in exports to the U.S.
While Colombian exporters saw their sales drop significantly, American businesses seem to have been able to benefit from the trade pact. Imports from the U.S. went up 15% between June and February.

...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014482725

[Judi Lynn]

3. Ordinary working people have never benefited whatsoever, anyway. This is interesting. n/t