April 8, 2008: Kaptur Introduces Bill Opposing Colombia Trade Deal
April 8, 2008
“President Bush is pushing an agreement that ignores the violence, corruption, discrimination, and blatant human rights violations perpetrated by President Uribe’s administration in Colombia,” Kaptur said. “If this Administration were truly interested in securing the Western Hemisphere, the President would not be turning a blind eye to the continuation of murder, kidnapping, and assassination in this country, and would advocate for free trade only among free peoples.”
The U.S. Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was introduced today in the House of Representatives on behalf of President Bush and against the wishes of the Democratic majority. Because of Fast Track procedures, the House is forced to take up the bill within 90 legislative days.
Kaptur, long an advocate of fair and reciprocal trade policies that advance democracy, a rule of law, and economic prosperity, led a majority of House Democrats to oppose the Peru FTA last year and vocally opposed of the current trade model since before the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993.
Kaptur is also the sponsor of H. Res. 336 which establishes moral and ethical principles to which all trade agreements should adhere in order to use trade as a development tool as opposed to an exploitative one.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
“Expressing the sense of Congress relating to the trade promotion agreement between the United States and Colombia.
“Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Congress should not approve the trade promotion agreement between the United States and Colombia signed on November 22, 2006.”
The U.S. Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was introduced today in the House of Representatives on behalf of President Bush and against the wishes of the Democratic majority. Because of Fast Track procedures, the House is forced to take up the bill within 90 legislative days.
Kaptur, long an advocate of fair and reciprocal trade policies that advance democracy, a rule of law, and economic prosperity, led a majority of House Democrats to oppose the Peru FTA last year and vocally opposed of the current trade model since before the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993.
Kaptur is also the sponsor of H. Res. 336 which establishes moral and ethical principles to which all trade agreements should adhere in order to use trade as a development tool as opposed to an exploitative one.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
“Expressing the sense of Congress relating to the trade promotion agreement between the United States and Colombia.
“Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Congress should not approve the trade promotion agreement between the United States and Colombia signed on November 22, 2006.”