Andean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA)

In November 2003, the Bush Administration announced it would begin negotiations for an Andean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) with Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. Labor unions in the U.S. and the Andean region, along with many civil society groups opposed AFTA,  arguing that rules for the global economy should protect workers, not just employers, investors, and traders.

In March 2004, Colombian and Ecuadorian trade union leaders, along with USLEAP, the AFL-CIO, Human Rights Watch and the International Labor Rights Fund, presented testimonies to USTR opposing these negotiations, among other things citing the failure of the Ecuadorian government to take steps on worker rights and the failure of the Colombian government to end near-total impunity with respect to hundreds of murders of trade unionists.

U.S. government plans for a regional Andean agreement (AFTA) fell apart in 2005.

Separate negotiations were concluded with Peru and Colombia in 2006 but opposition to the agreements forced the Administration to postpone a vote. Negotiations with Ecuador and Bolivia are not expected to resume anytime soon due to recently elected governments opposed to the free trade model.

Congress approved the Peru agreement in late 2007; a vote has not yet been scheduled on the more controversial agreement with Colombia.   

USLEAP has worked to help make violence against trade unionists in Colombia and impunity an issue in consideration of any trade agreement with Colombia.