Yesterday, two different and contradictory news regarding the negotiations between the White House and Congress where brought up, concerning the National Debt. Although sources reported that a deal between President Obama and John Boehner (Republican leader) was about to be concluded, neither the White house nor the Congressman´s speakers confirmed it. Many analysts assure that if there is no agreement on how to deal with the national debt, then there will not be any agreement on how to send the legislation in order to approve the remaining FTA´s before the legislative recess in August.

As we have reported before, the friction point between Democrats and republicans when speaking of FTA´s is centered at the TAA, a program that helps workers that are displaced as an effect of free trade.

The White House and the democrats have included the continuation of the TAA within the legislation to implement the FTA with Korea. The Republicans strongly oppose this tactic and state that they are not against the TAA, but they want the TAA to be debated independently from the FTA´s. The democrats and the White House think that if the TAA isn’t sent as a part of the legislation of the FTA with Korea, who holds “Fast Track” protection, then Republicans will block or dilate the TAA especially in the Senate.

Last Tuesday, July 19 2011, twelve influential Republicans sent a letter to President Obama asking him to send the remaining three FTA´s to congress as early as possible considering the TAA separately. They stated their support towards the TAA with “cloture, a mechanism that limits the debating time for law implementation projects. This promise could open the path for the FTA´s since these twelve senators guarantee 60 votes that would approve the TAA in the senate. This would avoid “Filibuster”, another mechanism that is used to dilate the debates and avoid laws that are passed for some type of consideration. We have attached the letter regarding the matter.

As always, we will be informing you of any news as soon as new information is released.

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Considering the results, it would be likely for the Obama administration to present the FTA with Colombia for the congress´s consideration within the next days. Although there have been large advances, there is still road to cover ahead and to have a plenary vote in the Senate and Chamber, for that reason now more than ever, it is important to have the support from all of your Headquarters. Visiting, calling and/or writing a letter to the different members of congress and Senate to achieve the needed approval by all the American companies.

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The Ways and Means Committee from the House of Representatives is also carrying out “mock mark ups” today regarding the FTA. There has still been no voting regarding the Colombia FTA since they are currently in recess. As soon as there is a result of this committee we will communicate it immediately.

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Once again, we invite you to contact the members of the Ways and Means Committee and its “staff” in order for them to vote in favor of the proposed legislation in order to allow definitive progress for the Colombia-U.S.A FTA.

Listed below we include a list with the members of the committee, both Republicans and Democrats, along with direct links to their web-sites in order to facilitate the communication process whether it be through email and/or by telephone.

Additionally we share the announcement of the hearing which contains links to the texts of the law projects.

A few minutes ago, senator Max Baucus (D-Montana), president of the Finance Committee announced that the “mock mark up “or voting trial regarding the law implementation  for the FTA´s with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea will not be executed as planned.

The reason for the suspension of the session is due to the lack of quorum, since the committee´s republicans announced that they would not participate. This morning, a group led by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) sent a letter to president Obama stating their disagreement with the inclusion of provisions for the renewal and expansion of the TAA (Trade Adjustment Act) within the legislation text of the FTA with Korea. According to Republicans the TAA program, used to give federal help to those workers affected due to the FTA´s. They state it must be viewed independently and not added to the projects for implementation. Below we share the text of the letter sent to President Obama by the Republicans.

The CEA is monitoring the situation constantly and we will quickly inform you of any news regarding the matter.

President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

As you know, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee exercises jurisdiction over international trade, including  jurisdiction over legislation implementing reciprocal trade agreements and authorizing legislation for trade adjustment assistance programs.  This authority is rooted in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution which grants Congress the power to “regulate commerce with foreign nations …” and to “… lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises….” As elected representatives to the U.S. Senate and as members of the Finance Committee, we feel it is our constitutional duty to carefully consider and debate legislation under the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction.

Under Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) procedures, legislation to implement trade agreements cannot be amended once it is submitted to Congress by the President.  For this reason, it is imperative that Congress be closely consulted throughout the trade agreement negotiation process and during development of implementing legislation for each trade agreement.

We are concerned about last minute attempts to include provisions expanding Trade Adjustment Assistance in the South Korea FTA implementing bill. We believe such actions are beyond the scope of TPA authority and unduly infringe on the rights of Members of the Senate to carefully weigh and debate the merits of TAA.

While we may share different views regarding our support for these agreements and on trade adjustment assistance, we are united in our opposition to inclusion of expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance in this implementing bill submitted to Congress under Trade Promotion Authority.   We believe each trade agreement and Trade Adjustment Assistance should be debated and considered in the Senate on its own merits.

Sincerely,

HATCH
GRASSLEY
SNOWE
KYL
CRAPO
ROBERTS
ENZI
CORNYN
COBURN
THUNE
BURR

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In two separate reports from the White House, USTR and the presidents’ dispatch of the senate´s Finance Committee , was announced in the bipartisan agreement to extend the Workers Assistance program displaced due to commerce- a prerequisite imposed by the Obama administration needed in order to send the three pending FTA to congress.

Within the report—the first to come out on Tuesday June 28th after noon, Trade representative Max Baucus (D-Montana) announced the intention to perform a “mock mark-up” or a preliminary vote regarding the project of law implementation which includes the TAA agreement in the senate this Thursday, June 30^th. Or his partner Dave Camp(R-Michigan), President of the Ways and Means Committee will make a similar announcement in the following week when the committee comes back from their recess son July 4^th.  The purpose of these “fake votes” is to measure the level of support these projects have before sending them to a final vote.

Although the view seems to be very positive in this moment, we remind our affiliates the importance of lobbying to assure that the American congress members give us the final positive view in order to finally arrive at that Free trade light at the end of the tunnel. We have attached a letter that your headquarters can send to their respective senators and representatives urging them to vote in favor of free trade.

Sample letter to Congress CTPA

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Within the only public event, held Friday June 25^th at the Rosario University, Mr. Podesta highlighted the positive changes that Colombia has gone through since his last visit 11 years ago when he accompanied president Clinton during a visit in Cartagena de Indias. He made an emphasis on President Juan Manuel Santos´s progressive agenda and cited his Victim Law, recently sanctioned by the president and called it “a historic step” in order to assure the fundamental rights of those displaced due to the armed conflict and for all Colombians.

“I know, “affirms Podesta, “That Juan Manuel Santos will work tirelessly in order o improve the living conditions of all Colombian citizens..and that the United States will continue doing anything it can to assure Colombia’s success…We are learning from each other and together we are taking responsibility for this relation. “

The following links lead to the interviews conducted by the local media regarding Podesta´s interview.

http://www.semana.com/nacion/estamos-orgullosos-del-plan-colombia/159156-3.aspx

http://www.larepublica.co/archivos/ECONOMIA/2011-06-28/el-tlc-es-fundamental-para-ampliar-las-relaciones-con-estados-unidos_131863.php

http://www.elespectador.com/impreso/internacional/articulo-280017-obama-no-superman-john-podesta

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This year, we invite our affiliates and their special guests to enjoy a series of Golf, Tennis, and bowling tournaments. For those who prefer to pamper themselves we offer spa activities along with relaxing Yoga classes and Pilates.

“Super Friday” gives our affiliates another chance to get to know their colleges within the American Companies in Colombia, allowing networking opportunities between old and new friends in a relaxed environment, full of humor and wonderful surprises.

As always, the day will include lunch and the prize ceremony where we will not only recognize champions within the sport events but we will raffle wonderful prizes donated by the important affiliated companies that make up our association. Don’t forget, next Friday September 9^th CEA will say:

“Thank God it’s Friday!—Super Friday 2011

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Following Bipartisan Negotiations, Finance Chairman Takes Critical Step to Advance Trade Deals,
Says U.S. Workers, Small Businesses Can’t Wait Any Longer for Economic Boost, New Jobs, Opportunities

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced today that the Committee will hold a “mock” markup of the draft implementing bills for the South Korea, Colombia, and Panama Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that includes an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) this Thursday, June 30 in Room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.  The TAA provisions in the legislation unveiled today reflect bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the underlying substance following discussions that included House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and the White House.  The proposal will provide an economic boost of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy, restore key TAA programs, and create new opportunities and open new markets for U.S. workers, ranchers, farmers and small businesses across the country.  The proposal would extend Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) through December 31, 2013, helping U.S. companies keep more good-paying jobs here at home and offering workers better options to train for new careers.  Committee mock markups are the standard way Congress weighs in on the Administration’s FTAs negotiated under fast-track authority, which prohibits amendments to the final implementing bills.

“These free trade agreements, together with Trade Adjustment Assistance, will boost our economy by billions of dollars and create new jobs and opportunities here at home.  This proposal opens lucrative new markets to American ranchers, farmers and small businesses while ensuring U.S. workers have all the help they need to adapt and thrive in the 21^st century global economy,” said Baucus. “The road to this point has not been an easy one, but our economy needs these jobs and these opportunities.  That’s why we have continued to fight to pass these job-creating agreements and restore this vital worker assistance program.  We think this package can get the support needed to become law.  American workers and our economy can’t afford for us to wait any longer to move forward.”

Baucus, a longtime champion of the TAA program, has been fighting for months to extend TAA.  The proposal restores the key eligibility requirements and fundamental reforms of the program’s 2009 expansion, which expired in February, and retroactively extends coverage to TAA petitions filed after February 12, 2011.  It also includes adjustments necessary to secure bipartisan support for TAA extension.

Trade Adjustment Assistance provides assistance to workers, firms and farmers affected by increased trade.  The program helps small businesses keep more jobs at home and provides training opportunities and other benefits for workers.

The implementing bills approve the South Korea, Colombia and Panama FTAs and establish the necessary conditions for their entry into force.

In addition, the proposal:

• Puts U.S. exporters on a level playing field in lucrative new markets;

• Restores TAA benefits to workers in service industries as well as manufacturing industries;

• Provides TAA benefits to workers whose jobs are off-shored to any country;

• Authorizes funding for TAA training and makes health care available and affordable for covered workers;

• Assists trade-affected services firms prevent layoffs and become more competitive;

• Helps farmers, ranchers, and fishermen become more globally competitive; and

• Extends the expired Generalized System of Preferences and Andean Trade Preference Act both retroactively and through July 31, 2013.  These programs lower costs for U.S. manufacturers importing from developing countries and give developing countries duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain products.

The Finance Committee will consider the draft implementing bills during a “mock” markup because Congress cannot offer amendments to the final implementing bills submitted by the Administration under the Trade Promotion Authority Act – also known as “fast track” – procedures.  Committee mock markups are the only opportunities for Congress to offer amendments to the Administration’s proposals.  Following Administration review of any amendments that the Finance and Ways and Means Committees approve on the draft implementing bills, final versions of the implementing bills will be submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote.

The full texts of the implementing bills will be available on the Finance Committee’s legislation page: http://finance.senate.gov/legislation/.

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WASHINGTON – Today, Press Secretary Jay Carney made the following statement on progress on Trade Adjustment Assistance for American workers and pending free trade agreements that will support tens of thousands of American jobs.

“President Obama has fought for an ambitious trade agenda that doubles exports in five years, levels the playing field for American workers, and reflects American values.  As part of that agenda, he has fought for Trade Adjustment Assistance for those American workers who lose their jobs due to increased imports or outsourcing.  As a result of extensive negotiations, we now have an agreement on the underlying terms for a meaningful renewal of a strengthened TAA.  The President embraces these critical elements of TAA needed to ensure that workers have the best opportunity to get good jobs that keep them in the middle class.  Now it is time to move forward with TAA and with the Korea, Colombia, and Panama trade agreements, which will support tens of thousands of jobs.”

Also below, please find fact sheets on the proposed improvements to strengthen Trade Adjustment Assistance and the Colombia, Panama, and South Korea Free Trade Agreements.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Fact Sheet

South Korea Free Trade Agreement

Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Panama Free Trade Agreement

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