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Obama to talk trade with Colombia’s Uribe

Obama to talk trade with Colombia’s Uribe

> Posted by William Gibson on June 12, 2009 12:57 PM

Is a ratified U.S.-Colombia trade pact in our near future?

A fledgling free-trade deal will top the agenda when President Obama meets with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the White House on June 29.

South Florida’s trade promoters hope Obama will push Congress to ratify the deal that was negotiated three years ago by former President George W. Bush.

Florida is one of Colombia’s major trading partners and home to more than 350,000 Colombian-Americans.

During last year’s campaign, Obama and most Democrats in Congress objected to the deal, largely because of concerns that Colombia has not adequately prevented violence against human-rights workers and union organizers.

Since then, Obama’s position has softened while he tries to revive the global economy and encourage cooperation among nations. Trade promoters say the deal mostly benefits the United States by eliminating duties on American exports.

The White House today called Colombia ``a close ally and partner of the United States.’’

Aside from trade, the two presidents plan to discuss ways to coordinate law-enforcement efforts to stem the flow of narcotics and quell crime.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/dcblog/2009/06/obama_to_...

By Simon on Jun 12, 2009, 12:59 in Politics & the war.

Zoltar says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:03:

I was told by COLOMBIANGRINGO to flag off topic post. How can i do it?' Where is the flag button?

www.zoltarsuites.com - under construction !

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Simon says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:06:

I'd like to flog you!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:07:

Z, in the case of a post with no comments, there is no flag button. That is on Peter's to-do list. In cases like this, please just send a message to me or another mod. I have been moving all the posts you mentioned as off topic.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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Zoltar says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:13:

Ah ok ! thanks ! I didnt know that

Zoltar
P.S: Simon no personal attack, you are violating the rules ! :P

www.zoltarsuites.com - under construction !

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Simon says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:16:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
__________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2009

Statement by the Press Secretary on the visit of President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia to the White House

President Obama will meet with President Uribe at the White House on Monday, June 29. Colombia is a close ally and partner of the United States, and the President looks forward to discussing a broad range of bilateral and hemispheric issues, including ways to enhance our cooperation on security and development challenges in Colombia and throughout the Americas. The President also looks forward to discussing with President Uribe our economic engagement, including the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and the long-term, institutional consolidation of security gains in Colombia through effective governance, as well as other ways to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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miamimike says on Jun 12, 2009, 23:11:

I think a nice Gesture on Mr Uribe's part would be reciprocate and to lift Import Taxes on US Products headed into into Colombia(as we currently do for many Colombian products headed to the states duty free) until a FTA is worked out in the States. Like a REverse FTA if you will,,,

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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Simon says on Jun 13, 2009, 10:09:

Yeah MM, it's not like the poor US can't afford to pay those tariffs, right?

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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miamimike says on Jun 13, 2009, 16:44:

Its a matter of Fairness Simon, Why is it always give give give on the part of the USA with nothing in return? Isn't giving a two way street? We have certainly been more then Generous as far as what we have given to Colombia.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 13, 2009, 19:40:

MM

How many dead bodys has Colombia because of the drugs? Is that not enough for you? What else do you want?

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miamimike says on Jun 13, 2009, 20:44:

Makopp---we want Fair Trade, not Free trade. Fair sounds like a great concept to me!

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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romy says on Jun 13, 2009, 21:48:

is it fair trade that the US subsidizes a bunch of products that are going to flood the Colombian market?

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miamimike says on Jun 14, 2009, 04:25:

The Tariffs could be "lost" right now, repealed with the stroke of a pen. It would greatly help our US Industries who in the end, help generate tax revenue that contributes to the Plan Colombia fund. Which in turn is greatly responsible for the improved security Colombia enjoys today. Sounds like a Fair Tradeoff to me.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 14, 2009, 04:35:

MM
and you forgot to count the dead body´s from the violence that generate user of drugs. In my opinion every convicted druguser has to pay 10.000 US$ to Colombia to clean up the mess they produce. this is fair trade.

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miamimike says on Jun 14, 2009, 04:48:

Ypou are talking apples and oranges. One(our Legal export products) heading to Colombia, the other Billions in illicit Drugs such as Cocaine. Not even a valid comparison.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 14, 2009, 05:14:

MM

why all are products used by consumer. And the deads that are from Colombia are not real? But I have to recognize that the US is doing much more with Plan Colombia like the Europeans.

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miamimike says on Jun 14, 2009, 05:57:

Europeans use a lot of Col Coke, what have they donated towards Plan Colombia? They enjoy the same import tariffs as companies from the USA. Why, after all the help we offer Colombia, don't US Companies get a break over other countries like China? Isn't fair trade a two way street? Why is the USA always the country to get beat-up on? Every time some natural disaster strikes the Americas, the USA, in many cases, is the first to offer help and lots of it. If I ran the US Govt, I'd reel in all this foreign aid and use it to make life better for our own Citizens, like adequate medical care for our Military Veterans.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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Simon says on Jun 14, 2009, 11:04:

"US getting beat up", don't make me laugh! No country gets beat up like Colombia!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Simon says on Jun 15, 2009, 11:39:

Pinche American,

I see Colombian tourists pulled out of lines in airports and subjected to the most humilliating of treatments! When do you ever see US Americans treated like that anywhere?

And stop calling yourself Colombian!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Dolfi says on Jun 16, 2009, 01:14:

In Peru more than 30 people died in fioghts between security forces and natives in the Amazon region. This is related to the Free Trade Agreement Peru signed with the USA:

"El decreto legislativo 1090, conocido como ley de la selva, que modifica la Ley Forestal del año 2000, fue aprobado el 28 de junio de 2008 como parte de un grupo de leyes propuestas por el Ejecutivo peruano para adecuarse a las condiciones del Tratado de Libre Comercio con Estados Unidos. El Gobierno sostiene que la norma pretende regular y supervisar la gestión y aprovechamiento sostenible de los recursos forestales, incluyendo concesiones de ecoturismo y de conservación, a través de una autoridad dependiente del Ministerio de Agricultura.

Sin embargo, los indígenas de la Amazonia peruana temen que los decretos abran la puerta a una descontrolada inversión privada y denuncian que la norma fue aprobada sin el consentimiento de los pueblos nativos, contra lo establecido por la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT)."

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/protestas/selva/llegan/ci...

Good luck to Colombia.

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