Colombian Ambassador Asks US Congress To Support Trade Deal

from NASDAQ

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Colombian government Tuesday asked U.S. Congress to support a free trade agreement between the two countries, arguing that economic development is the best way to curb violence in the region.

"This is a precious opportunity to promote peace and economic opportunity and poverty reduction in our hemisphere," Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. Carolina Barco Isakson said during remarks at a panel discussion on trade sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

The Bush administration has negotiated free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia to replace a temporary program of trade preferences extended to the drug-producing Andean region. Ecuador and Bolivia also benefit from this program, which must be renewed periodically.

Trade analysts say the U.S. Congress is poised to approve the free trade agreement with Peru amid bipartisan support. Peru's legislature has approved changes to the agreement designed to strengthen labor and environmental protections demand by Democrats as a condition for ratification.

Few Republicans are expected to vote against the agreements because there isn't significant opposition from particular industry or agriculture groups. U.S. imports from these countries are now mostly duty-free.

Sentiment has been strong for a free trade agreement with Panama, although, political friction over the recent election of a legislator accused of killing a U.S. soldier has eroded that support.

Most vocal opposition in the U.S. Congress has been against the trade agreement with Colombia, where Democrats say union leaders are targeted for assassinations by paramilitary groups.

Barco said the violence against union leaders is a reflection of the extremely high level of general violence in the country, which has improved over the past five years as the economy improved.

Five years ago, Colombia recorded 33,000 homicides annually, including 200 labor union leaders, Barco said. Last year, there were 17,000 homicides, including 20 labor leaders, she said. Most of these 20 were teachers working in areas of high violence, according to Barco.

Meanwhile, the government is providing extra protection for groups particularly targeted, including councilmen, mayors, labor leaders and journalists. About half of the spending on this protection goes toward security for labor unions.

"Colombia is thoroughly committed to reducing violence in our country and providing protection for special groups," she said.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative John Veroneau, also appearing on the panel, said the trade agreements would help reduce, not increase, inequality in South America.

"In a closed society, the elite will do well; openness, transparency, and rule of law is progressive," Veroneau said. "These FTAs give an opportunity to help that effort."

-By Elizabeth Price, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9295; Elizabeth.Price@ dowjones.com