US-Colombian trade officials set to meet again Thursday

Officials are aiming to finalize an agreement with Colombia once South America’s third-largest economy has acknowledged it’s taking clear steps to follow internationally recognized labor laws, is working to prevent violence against labor leaders and agrees to prosecute those who commit those crimes, she said.

“I am optimistic that we will be able to reach a good resolution fairly quickly, and that’s why we’ve worked so hard over the past several weeks in Washington and Bogota to achieve such a result,” she told the committee.

Democrats and Republicans on both sides of the Capitol are clamoring for the Obama administration to send them all three pending trade accords with Korea, Colombia and Panama. 

Sapiro said it’s clear that U.S. officials and the administration of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos “share common goals” and that nation is addressing labor and broader human rights concerns that should allow congressional consideration of the agreement “in the near future.”

A trade agreement with Colombia could expand U.S. exports by more than $1.1 billion and provide a $2.5 billion boost to gross domestic product, Sapiro said.

“President Obama has made clear that any trade agreement must be in the interest of Americans and consistent with our values,” Sapiro told the panel. 

Meanwhile, Sapiro also pushed for Congress to pass the Trade Adjustment Assistance program (TAA), which helps U.S workers who’ve lost their jobs because of foreign trade, and Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), as part of an effort to stop the illegal narcotics trade, for as long as a time as possible, which he says is a way to help Colombia.

The House and Senate have discussed both measures but let them expire last month. Some Republicans have said they won’t pass the TAA or ATPA until the administration has all three trade agreements ready. 

A Democratic group of House lawmakers expressed concern Wednesday that a free trade deal between the U.S. and South Korea could cause job losses, increase the trade deficit and make it easier for North Korea and China to import their goods. 

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told lawmakers last week that Korea deal is ready for congressional approval and the other two deals are still in the works but edging closer to completion. 

On Monday, a group of 44 Senate Republicans sent a letter to Obama vowing to hold up for the Commerce Department and other trade-related nominations until all three agreements are lined up for ratification.