USTR Seeks Comments on Labor Issues for Pending U.S.-Colombia FTA
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice seeking comments on labor-related issues in the context of the pending free trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia.
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Comments are due September 15, 2009.
(Though the U.S.-Colombia FTA was signed in November 2006 and amended in June 2007, it still requires Congressional approval to take effect.)
USTR to Review Labor-Related Issues, Work with Colombian Government
The USTR states that issues have been raised about the extent to which Colombians are able to exercise their fundamental labor rights, as referenced in the FTA. In that light, the President has asked the USTR to assess what steps can be taken, along with the government of Colombia, to secure continued progress in ensuring that Colombia's workers can exercise their fundamental labor rights.
Comments Sought on Colombian Labor Regime
To assist the USTR in fulfilling this task, the Chairman of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) invites interested persons to provide written comments on whether:
there are gaps in Colombia's labor law regime, including its enforcement mechanisms, with respect to providing for fundamental labor rights of its citizens and if so, to identify those gaps and provide specific suggestions for improvement;
the Colombian government is taking adequate steps to protect Colombia's workers from acts of intimidation or violence that impede the exercise of their fundamental labor rights and if not, identify any gaps and provide specific suggestions for improvement; and
the government of Colombia has made sufficient progress in its efforts to prosecute the perpetrators of violence and intimidation against unionists exercising their fundamental labor rights, and if not to identify the gaps and provide specific suggestions for improvement.
Comments Also Sought on Benefits of FTA, Etc.
The public is also invited to comment on other issues they believe relevant to the U.S.-Colombia FTA, including the potential benefits of the agreement.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/27/09 news, 09072715, for BP summary of USTR seeking comments on the extent to which the pending U.S.-Korea FTA would achieve certain purposes and objectives.
See ITT's Online Archives or 07/02/09 news, 09070299 4, for BP summary of the U.S. and Colombia discussing moving forward on the U.S.-Colombia FTA.
See ITT's Online Archives or 04/09/08 and 04/10/08 news, 08040905 and 08041099 2, for BP summaries of President Bush sending U.S.-Colombia implementing legislation to Congress and the House plan to delay its consideration, respectively.
See ITT's Online Archives or 11/28/06 news, 06112805, for BP summary of the U.S. and Colombia signing the FTA.)
- comments due September 15, 2009
| Gloria Blue (for procedural questions) | (202) 395-3475 |
| Bennett Harman (for all other questions) | (202) 395-9446 |
USTR notice (FR Pub 07/28/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-17798.pdf
Final text of U.S.-Colombia FTA available at http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/colombia-fta/final-text