AJC Urges Congress to Pass Free Trade Agreements

["Ari Gordon" <gordona@ajc.org>]

AJC Urges Congress to Pass Free Trade Agreements

April 11, 2011 - AJC is urging the U.S. Congress to move expeditiously to
pass the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia.

"It's a shame for relations with a key Latin American partner that this
important accord has remained stuck in the halls of Congress for more than
four years," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "For our mutual
benefit, Congress should pass the FTA with Colombia now."

AJC has been a consistent advocate for the pending free trade agreements
with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. The renewed AJC call to pass the
legislation comes after President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to the
measure, following a White House meeting last week with Colombian President
Juan Manuel Santos.

"Colombia is a stalwart democratic ally of the United States, and deserves
to be treated as a true friend, as do Panama and South Korea, of course,"
said Harris. "The persistent delay of important trade accords that will
benefit economically both our allies and the U.S. is inexcusable and
contrary to our national interests."

The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement was signed on November 22, 2006,
and quickly approved by the Colombian Congress.

Opponents of the agreement have cited deficiencies in Colombia's human
rights record. Presidents Santos and Obama endorsed an action plan to
strengthen human rights protections.

In November, the New York Times noted in an editorial, supporting the FTA
with Colombia, that "violence has abated considerably" during the
administration of President Alvaro Uribe, and "undeniable improvements" in
security and human rights protection should not be ignored.

President Uribe, who led Colombia from 2002 to 2010, addressed AJC's 2007
Annual Gala in Washington, where he also spoke about the need to ratify and
enact the FTA.

AJC actively promotes stronger hemispheric relations, chiefly through its
Latino and Latin American Institute, directed by Dina Siegel Vann.

>Ari M. Gordon
>Special Advisor 
>Interreligious and Intergroup Relations
>American Jewish Committee
>165 E56th Street
>New York, NY 10022
>(212) 891-6717