Talking Columbian Trade
Talking Columbian Trade. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.
Everyone is keeping an eye on what is happening with several free trade agreements pending. When approved the agreements will allow many industries including agriculture a better market for their products. U.S. Trade Representative, Ron Kirk talked with reporters yesterday to give us an update.
KIRK: There has been quite a bit of activity related to our moving forward with the President’s stated intentions to give American farmers and manufacturers and workers access to important markets in Latin America including Columbia. Earlier this year President Obama directed my office in particular to intensify our engagement with Columbia so that we might address those issues and concerns expressed by many in Congress and around the country around labor violence and the administration of a justice.
He says they have had 3 weeks of very intensive engagement with the Columbian government.
KIRK: And as a result of our intensive work, we are now in a position that we have reached an agreement on what we are calling an action plan relating to labor rights that outlines a number of steps the government of Columbia has agreed it will undertake over the next several weeks and months that we think puts us in a position to begin discussions with Congress on moving forward with the free trade agreement.
Columbian President Santos is visiting the U.S. and will address the United Nations.
KIRK: It is expected that he will travel to Washington to meet with President Obama and we anticipate that they two Presidents will approve the action plan. The plan significantly expands the protection for labor leaders and union organizers. It bolsters efforts to hold accountable and punish those who have perpetrated violence against union members and it makes a number of important steps to strengthen labor laws and their enforcement.
He says the plan contains specific, detailed actions for Columbia to take.
KIRK: Some of these actions will be taken before we move the free trade agreement, others will be taken before Congress votes on the agreement and there are additional steps we will work with Columbia on for the balance of the year.
No timetable was given for the completion of the agreement. More tomorrow.
That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
