On the recordJune 30, 2010
Yesterday, China and Taiwan signed the free trade agreement to open up markets, create jobs and strengthen their economies. You have to ask yourself, if these two bitter political rivals can work together to boost their economies, why isn't this Congress taking up the free trade agreement with Colombia? Colombia's one of America's strongest allies. With our help, they've instilled rule of law, defeated the FARC terrorist group. They've created labor rights and lowered their crime rate, violence rate by 90 percent. For 3 years, this Congress has done nothing. Other countries have now moved in line ahead of us, and our U.S. farmers are losing their sales to Colombia. Congress does nothing. Venezuela has imposed a trade agreement on our ally Colombia. This Congress does nothing. It's time for Congress to take up and pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement this year. ____________________
