Textiles on Agenda as The United States and Colombia Meet to Review Implementation of the United States - Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement

On Thursday, August 2, 2018, officials from the United States and Colombia held the second meeting of the United States – Colombia Free Trade Commission. The Commission is responsible for overseeing implementation and further elaboration of the United States – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.

At this second FTC meeting, the officials reviewed the trade and economic impact of the Agreement on both countries since the previous Commission meeting held in November 2012, in Washington, D.C. Both sides noted that the bilateral trade relationship has continued to strengthen during the six years the Agreement has been in force, that both sides have worked together constructively to resolve issues when they arise, and that implementation is proceeding well and smoothly.

A discussion of bilateral issues of concern included Intellectual Property, digital trade and telecommunications, services, agriculture-related issues, textile and apparel concerns, truck scrappage, and how better use can be made of the CTPA by certain sectors.

In the case of textiles and apparel, the Agreement, has, in eyes of many, not delivered its full potential. Attempts have been made to address this, and in December, 2015, Agathon Associates' David Trumbull was a panelist at the ProColombia U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Sourcing Seminar in Bogata, Colombia.

The two governments reviewed the important ongoing engagement on labor issues, an area in which the Colombian government has made progress addressing the issues identified in the 2017 Public Report of Review of U.S. Submission 2016-02 (Colombia). Officials noted that work remains and that both sides will continue to work together on the pending issues identified in the 2017 Report.