Smith Travels to Colombia in Support of Trade Agreement

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today traveled to Colombia with five other members of the U.S. House on a bipartisan congressional delegation to discuss the pending U.S.-Colombia trade agreement with government officials there.

"Traveling to Colombia signals how important this pending agreement is to our nation’s economy, but even more specifically to Nebraska’s economy," Smith said. "We have made significant progress toward ratifying the Colombian agreement, but now is not the time slow down because each day we delay Nebraska farmers and ranchers lose opportunities to international competitors."

The U.S.-Colombia agreement would eliminate or substantially lower tariffs on exports to Colombia, particularly agricultural products. The American Farm Bureau estimates U.S. farm exports to Colombia could increase by more than $690 million annually with the passage of this agreement.

Historically, Colombia was the largest export market in Latin America for U.S. agricultural products. It has now fallen to second because of sharp loss of market share following Colombia’s trade agreement with Argentina.

Smith serves on the Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over pending trade agreements. The Committee on Ways and Means continues to press for the agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea to be considered by July 1, 2011.