The Columbia Free Trade Agreement being promoted by President Bush will open up a market for American goods in Colombia. But Barack Obama says any deal with the South American country would "make a mockery" of labor protections.
A major talking point this week has been foreign policy issues. McCain and Barack Obama have been in a media tag debate over foreign policy, and one of the most confusing stances to come out of this is Barack Obama's views on the Columbia Free Trade Agreement. Barack Obama's campaign website contains a speech (shown above) about his stances on Free Trade.
What I oppose - and what I have always opposed - are trade deals that put the interests of multinational corporations ahead of the interests of Americans workers - like NAFTA, and CAFTA, and permanent normal trade relations with China.
And I'll also oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress because the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery of the very labor protections that we have insisted be included in these kinds of agreements. So you can trust me when I say that whatever trade deals we negotiate when I'm President will be good for American workers, and that they'll have strong labor and environmental protections that we'll enforce.
Colombia has come far in improving the violence in the country through positive relations with the United States.
Columbia is an important democratic ally in an unstable region that combats terrorism and drugs. President Bush in a speech in discussed the importance of the Free Trade Agreement in battling terrorism.
Despite this progress, Colombia remains under intense pressure in the region. It faces a continuing assault from the terrorist network known as FARC, which has seized hostages and murdered innocent folks -- including Americans -- in an attempt to overthrow Colombia's democracy. Colombia also faces a hostile and anti-American regime in Venezuela which has met with FARC terrorist leaders and deployed troops to the Colombian border as a means of intimidating the Colombian government and its people.
President Uribe has stood strong against these threats. And he has done so with the assurance of America's support, because his fight against tyranny and terror is a fight that we share. President Uribe has told members of Congress as me -- and me, as well, that approving the free trade agreement is one of the most important ways that America can demonstrate our support for Colombia. People throughout the hemisphere are watching to see what the United States will do. If Congress fails to approve this agreement, it would not only abandon a brave ally -- it would send a signal throughout the region that America cannot be counted on to support its friends. As Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said: "If the U.S. turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back our cause far more than any Latin American dictator could hope to achieve."
Barack Obama's alleged ties with the FARC has made news in recent weeks when his name was mentioned in support of the FARC's fight against the Democracy in Columbia. His name was found in correspondence on an FARC laptop which was seized.
The letter reads:
The gringos will ask for an appointment with the minister to solicit him to communicate to us his interest in discussing these topics. They say that the new president of their country will be Obama and that they are interested in your compatriots. Obama will not support "Plan Colombia" nor will he sign the TLC (Colombian Free Trade agreement). Here we responded that we are interested in relations with all governments in equality of conditions and that in the case of the US it is required a public pronouncement expressing their interest in talking with the FARC given their eternal war against us.
This revelation goes directly against Barack Obama's claims he makes on his campaign website under issues of foreign policy. It is important to note the allegations have not been substantiated, only speculated.
“When I am this party's nominee, ... I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”
— Barack Obama, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007
In Columbia despite the progress there are still guerrilla groups bent on tearing down the democracy of the nation, as well as militias that have been hired by businesses to enforce cheap labor. With United States support the country has come far, but if the Free Trade Agreement fails it will hinder relations and all of the progress already made. This stance on the CFTA seems hypocritical in light of his recent comments that he would be willing to hold talks with known nations in support of terrorism without preset condition, a statement he later back pedaled on to save face in the media. He is willing to hold talks with Iran who are directly opposed to the United States, but will punish an ally despite making great progress to ensure safety of its citizens both economically and physically. The protection of Colombian forests is another issue that can be brought up and negotiated, however it will not happen if the United States takes back its support.
Aside from political relations the Columbia Free Trade Agreement would establish non tariff trade with Columbia. Columbia is already trading with the United States duty free, however there are heavy taxes on U.S. imports to Columbia. This agreement will not promote the loss of jobs in the United States, but will level the playing field when it comes to trade with Columbia.
The
CFTA was signed on November 22, 2006. In the 547 days since the agreement was signed and awaiting congressional approval the United States has been at a disadvantage with good sent to Columbia, many of which have 10-20 percent tariffs on the price.
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May 19, 2008 Louisiana's export shipments of goods in 2007 totaled $30.4 billion. The state ranked 10th on overall exports in the nation.
Barack Obama has a chance to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, specifically the ones in New Orleans by approving the Columbia Free Trade Agreement.
As president, Barack Obama will keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. And he will take steps to ensure that the federal government will never again allow such catastrophic failures in emergency planning and response to occur.
Mayor Ray Nagin has publicly plead to congress for approval of the CFTA as New Orleans is becoming more of an international port, and an influx of trade would help the city grow and become economically stable.
“New Orleans is becoming an even greater international city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina,” Nagin wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last November, “and we are making every effort to capitalize on trade liberalization that will flow from these FTAs. Our port system is ideally situated to take advantage of the Latin American FTAs.”
How sincere is Obama in helping New Orleans when he is an opponent to establishing self sufficiency in New Orleans instead of government hand outs? How sincere is he in battling terrorism and promoting peace and prosperity around the world?
