Mike Levin: “We're talking now about the Andean Trade Preference Act, and we're not talking about the free trade agreements that have…”

“We're talking now about the Andean Trade Preference Act, and we're not talking about the free trade agreements that have been discussed here. In my view, whether one supports or opposes any of those free trade agreements, it would be counterproductive for someone to vote against extension of the ATPA for 8 months. This relates, as mentioned, to the four nations. The original ATPA was passed in 1991, and it was expanded and extended through a voice vote in the year 2001. I think it should be emphasized that, basically, our trade relationship with these four nations is more complementary than it is competitive. That's a crucial issue. And if you exclude oil and oil products, our trade balance, our relationship, is essentially balanced in the range of 10- to $11 billion that we export and they export, if you exclude oil, which is not covered by the ATPA. The Andean countries are a steadily growing market for U.S. goods, and that meant there was an increase, a rather substantial one, in 2005 over 2004.”