The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H122-H123 on Jan. 7, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
(Mr. RIVERA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. RIVERA. Madam Speaker, I rise today for the first time to address the House and express my strong support for passage of a free trade agreement with Colombia. Colombia is America's fourth-largest trading partner in Latin America, and the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that 9,000 American companies trade with Colombia, most of which are small businesses and many of which operate in my district in south Florida.
While 90 percent of Colombian goods enter the U.S. duty free, American companies still pay tariffs for U.S. goods to enter Colombia. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement would eliminate obstacles and immediately boost U.S. exports to Colombia. By passing a free trade agreement with Colombia, U.S. GDP would increase by roughly $2.5 billion and exports by over $1 billion, creating thousands of jobs in the United States. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is also a positive foreign policy gesture to one of our most reliable allies in the region and the oldest continuously functioning democracy in all of South America.
Madam Speaker, it's time to stand with one of our best allies in Latin America and create thousands of jobs here at home with passage of a Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
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