DALLAS—Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today issued the following statement: “For 16 months, the Democratic congressional leadership has avoided dealing with the Colombia FTA, and changing the rules of the game today continues their avoidance. At a time when exports are driving America’s economic growth, we should be doing everything we can to open more markets, especially those in our own hemisphere.
“It’s been more than 500 days since the FTA was signed, and in that time American exporters have paid approximately $1 billion in tariffs. In the meantime, Colombian exports have come into the United States duty free. Now is the time to come together for the good of the American people and the American economy. U.S. exporters, workers and farmers deserve a vote now on the agreement. Colombia deserves a vote now on the agreement.” Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez is in Dallas-Ft. Worth to tour RadioShack World Headquarters and provide an update on the transition to digital television and deliver remarks on trade and the economy at the Jno. E. Owens Memorial Foundation Conference hosted by SMU’s Tower Center: “Trade Integration in the Americas.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
