Obama: 'clear the way' for trade pact with Colombia

[Bacchus39]

http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/18875-obama-clear-the-way-for-trade-pact-with-colombia.html

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday it is time to "clear the way" for trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

"Now it's time to clear the way for a series of trade agreements that would make it easier for American companies to sell their products in Panama, Colombia and South Korea -- while also helping the workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition," Obama said in a speech to Congress on jobs and the U.S. economy.

"If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais, I want to see folks in South Korea driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers. I want to see more products sold around the world stamped with three proud words: 'Made in America,'" Obama said.

Washington and Bogota signed a free trade agreement in 2006, but the pact has since been stalled because of Democratic concerns about human rights violations in Colombia. Obama vowed to push the trade deal forward after he and his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos agreed on labor reforms in Colombia. However, so far, the White House has not sent the pact to Congress for approval

[ocpagu]

1. Goodbye!

Goodbye Colombia's national industry. Say hi to Mexico's when you arrive in the limbo.

[naaman fletcher]

2. I find it confusing...

Isn't the general argument that Mexico took our industries? So why would Colombia lose theirs?

[Bacchus39]

3. yeah, I actually think it would be the US that would be on the losing end

if anyone.

[ocpagu]

4. It's a common argument among conservatives...

... but it's inaccurate.

Colombian industries, and Latin American industries in general, are much less competitive than the American ones. Their internal market would be flooded with American products. At the same time, they wouldn't be able to establish themselves into the American market. They'd offer cheap labor to American industrialists.

American industrial elite has a double win: cheaper labor force to become more competitive AND getting easier access to Colombia's internal market.

That's pretty much the reason why the Latin American countries have so far avoided the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) - including Colombia, which is US closest ally in the continent. FTAA is the "wet dream" of American neoliberals, and the nightmare of Latin Americans.