More than 300 Civil Society Groups in U.S. and Colombia Oppose FTA

Over 300 civil society organizations from the U.S. and Colombia and another 100-plus academics and individuals from the U.S. called for a rejection of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in a joint letter sent today to Congress.  Representing a broad range of religious, environmental, farmer, and labor groups, the letter, signed by USLEAP, cites concerns regarding the impact of the FTA not only on workers but also small-scale farmers, Afro-Colombians and indigenous communities, and the Colombian ecosystem, while highlighting the continued internal conflict that has led to massive displacement in Colombia and violence against human rights defenders.

The letter, organized by the Washington Office on Latin America with the Latin America Working Group and the U.S. Office on Colombia, and two other letters issued recently by the Steelworkers and the Teamsters come as Congress and the Obama Administration accelerate consideration of the long-stalled agreement.  The Obama Administration has indicated that it wants approval by the U.S. House of Representatives on the Colombia FTA, as well as pending FTAs with Panama and South Korea, by early August.  (The Senate is not expected to vote before the fall.)

The Administration and Republicans are trying to reach an agreement on re-authorization of a program for U.S. workers displaced by trade; the Administration has set renewed funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance program as a precondition for moving the FTAs to a vote, while key Republicans are opposed to renewal of the program in its current form.  No deal was reached this week, pushing any House action into early July since the House is in recess the last week of June.

Take Action.  If you have not recently contacted your Representative, urge him/her to oppose the Colombia FTA.   Underscore that whatever last-minute promises made and measures taken by the Colombian and U.S. governments, including the Labor Action Plan agreed to in April 2011, are inadequate at least until there is time to see concrete results, including a reduction in violence against trade unionists, impunity and other worker rights violations.  Check out USLEAP’s Toolkit on the Colombia FTA and fact sheets updated June 2011.  Also review the letter cited above for additional arguments to oppose the Colombia FTA.