Pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement

NY Times Editorial:

We don’t say it all that often, but President Bush is right: Congress should pass the Colombian free-trade agreement now.

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We believe that the trade pact would be good for America’s economy and workers. Rejecting it would send a dismal message to allies the world over that the United States is an unreliable partner and, despite all that it preaches, does not really believe in opening markets to trade. There is no more time to waste. If the lame-duck Congress does not approve the trade pact this year, prospects would dim considerably since it would lose the cover of the rule (formerly known as fast track) that provides for an up-or-down, no-amendment vote.

Because of trade preferences granted as part of the war on drugs, most Colombian exports already are exempt from United States tariffs. The new agreement would benefit American companies that now have to pay high tariffs on exports to Colombia.

It also would strengthen bonds with an important ally in a volatile corner of South America — that also is the main source of cocaine shipped into this country and where the United States has very few friends these days.

In neighboring Venezuela, President Hugo Chávez spouts fierce anti-American rhetoric to distract attention from his autocratic policies. Last month, Bolivia expelled the United States ambassador and accused Drug Enforcement Administration agents of conspiring against his government. Ecuador has refused to renew a lease on an airbase used by American counternarcotics flights in the coastal city of Manta.

We, too, have strong concerns about human-rights violations committed by the government of President Álvaro Uribe. But Democrats opposing the trade pact on these grounds are ignoring undeniable improvements. Violence has abated considerably during the Uribe administration as it has taken on the left-wing guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and right-wing paramilitaries. The number of trade unionists killed, a major Democratic concern, is still too high but has dropped sharply.

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Deaths of union members are lower than for the population as a whole which makes the Democrat objections nonsensical. The agreement would increase manufacturing jobs for companies making heavy equipment and oil field supplies as well as appliance manufacturers. The Democrat objections are just nuts. Colombia is already entering into free trade agreements with Canada and the EU. Why would the Democrats want to give them a competitive advantage over our businesses? I don't see any legitimate concerns with this deal.

This is something of an unusual day when the NY Times has a lead story on the auto business and a lead editorial on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement that I find myself largely in agreement with. It is a little scary, but I have the courage to move on.

The question is whether the Smoot-Hawley Democrats have the courage to do something to help American manufacturing that does not require a bailout.