Back in the U.S.

We're back in the U.S. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Colombia, but it is always good to be back in America. We want to say thanks to the American Farm Bureau Federation for letting us utilize their Washington studios once again, so we could get a good night's sleep in D.C. last night before returning home today. In Washington, we continued our coverage of the Colombian trip with more interviews from our visit and further analysis from Nick Giordono of the National Pork Producers Association (pictured right) and Rosemarie Watkins of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Our thanks also go out to our sponsors: The National Pork Producers Council, National Corn Growers Association, Yieldgard VT Triple and the Corn Refiners Association.

Cut Flower Farm

Our final stop was to a cut flower farm near Medellin. It is a sprawling facility with greenhouses covering several acres. Again, the message was that the Colombian and U.S. governments were working together with industry to provide new opportunity to Colombians displaced by violence. The cut flower industry is growing in this part of Colombia, and the facility we visited stressed its importance because it is a labor-intensive business, providing good jobs to those forced to move out of the countryside.

Talking with Colombian Labor Leaders

Monday started with discussions with various groups of Colombian labor leaders, both those who support the Colombian Free Trade Agreement and those who oppose it. Those opposed to the FTA said that their farmers cannot compete in the global marketplace and that the agreement will force them back into the drug trade. Mike Adams had a chance to talk one-on-one with some labor leaders who support the FTA and you can hear their response below.

Medellin

Medellin has been a nice change of pace, at least as far as the weather in concerned. We have gone from incredibly high humidity and temperatures in the 90s to what locals call the "perpetual spring" of the mountains in Medellin. The area is breathtakingly beautiful, and the city if full of life and activity. Just a few years ago, however, we would not have seen streets full of people, nor would we have even been there. As we mentioned before, it used to be the most dangerous city in the world with residents living in fear of the drug lords and paramilitary groups. Now the city is bustling and joyous.



Medellin sprawls across several mountainsides and up into the hills. Our visit began with a trip up a cable car to the top of the mountain for a visit to their new library. This library is more than just a place to house books, but rather a place to build lives. It hosts job training programs and a day care center. It is an important place in the revitalization of the city.

While there, we visited one-on-one with young men who used to be members of violent paramilitary groups who now are receiving job training and education. It was heart-wrenching to hear their stories of desparation, trying to find safety and stability for their families. All said they did not seek to become members of these groups, but were forced into the violence in order to protect their families. They seem hopeful as they look forward to new lives away from the violence and were very appreciative of the assistance they have received through the USAID program.

House Ag Committee Members in Colombia

Two members of the House Agriculture Committee joined us on the mission to Colombia, Michael Conaway of Texas and John Salazar of Colorado. We had a chance to pull both aside during our visit to Medellin to talk about Colombia and the impact of a free trade deal as well as other issues. First, Michael Conaway:



And, Congressman John Salazar:

Ambassador William Brownfield

The U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, has also spent a great deal of time with the delegation throughout the visit. Mike Adams had an opportunity to sit down with the ambassador while we were in Cartagena to talk a bit about the Colombian people and the possible impacts of a free trade agreeement.

Interview With Secretary Gutierrez

As I mentioned earlier, Secretary Gutierrez has been very available and willing to engage with the press about, not only Colombia, but a number of trade and other issues. Mike Adams had a chance to chat with him about Colombia and the Secretary's efforts to get a free trade deal approved while riding a cable car up the side of a mountain that makes up much of Medellin.

The People of Colombia

One of the most noticable aspects of Colombia is that people are outside congregating and socializing everywhere. Of course we generate a certain amount of intrigue as we speed through town in a police-escorted caravan. But even if you look back into the side streets, families and neighbors are on the streets and porches interacting. It makes one think that maybe the TV generation in the U.S. has caused us to lose something as we grow more isolated and socialize less and less in our neighborhoods. In Colombia, many were forced into isolation in their homes in hopes of avoiding violence. They seem to truly enjoy the newfound freedom provided by the present increase in safety.

Everywhere we go, the residents are watching us, sizing us up much as we are them. But they are also reaching out to us and looking to engage us, despite the language barrier. I though I'd share with you a few of the thousands of friendly faces we have seen in our travels.

President Uribe Town Hall Meeting

Colombia's President Uribe enjoys a 70 percent approval rating in his second term, largely due to his accessibility to the public. We had heard about his marathon Town Hall meetings where he travels into all areas of the country, urban and rural, and holds an open forum to personally engage residents. The sessions are often quite animated and run eight to nine hours.

While in Perimetral we had opportunity to witness one of these raucus sessions. Average citizens stepped forward and engaged their president directly while the crowd watched and interjected their own points. We were literally pushed from all sides as the throng worked their way closer to the president to join the action. It was a unique look at democracy that we thought we would share a taste of with you.

Perimetral

We all know that there is abject poverty in the world, but for most of us in the United States, the notion of poor slums has some other-worldly quality to it. We know they are there, but we cannot really get our minds around the notion of what it is like to live in ramshackle shacks with open sewers every day. Seeing the Perimetral slums in Cartagena was a striking moment for us, transforming this kind of poverty from a notion to a brutal reality.

Perimetral is made largely Colombians displaced by violience who are looking for a safe place for their families. It is a swampy area, with the most basic of housing and leaking sewers. Despite the conditions, you sensed a hope in the residents of Perimetral. The Colombian government, with some assistance from USAID, is working to improve the conditions in this neighborhood. Significant work has been done to reduce flooding and provide some infrastructure. A housing replacement program has begun, but is off to a slow start. We heard residents thank public officials for the work that has been done, but also call for new housing, safe sewers and educational opportunities. The Perimetral community was presented to us by officials from the U.S. and Colombia as an opportunity for free trade to make a difference for some of the poorest people in the world, through investment in Colombia and the new jobs that come with that investment.

So far, no other event in our visit to Colombia has had more impact on us than the visit to Perimetral, not only because of the conditions, but also because of the contrasting warmth and excitement of the Colombian people in the neighborhood. It is evident that despite the most basic of living conditions, the people of this neighborhood are encouraged that concerns for the safety of their families have been greatly relieved. I know Mike Adams and I (John Herath) will be thinking of our visit to Perimetral as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week.




While in Perimetral, Trade Minister Plata explained the work being done in the neighborhood and the significance of President Uribe's Town Hall meetings.

A Word About Our Host

Our visit to Colombia has been organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and is hosted by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. The Bush administration is in the midst of a full-court-press to get the Colombian Free Trade Agreement approved in Congress. This is one in a series of missions to the country to give members of Congress a first-hand view of the country, its transformation away from violence and its political importance to the U.S. in the region.

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez has been a gracious and easily available host for the trip, often engaging the press about trade issues or just joining us for a chat. He is seen here briefing the press during our flight into Cartagena.

Secretary Gutierrez was born in Cuba, and his latin-American roots are evident as he easily engages both Americans and Colombians on the trip. Watch here later for video of our interview with Secretary Gutierrez recorded as we rode a cable car up into the mountains of Medellin.

President Uribe

Sunday began with a visit to Casa de Huspedes, the Presidential retreat in Cartagena. It's roughly equivalent to Camp David in the U.S. It is a striking facility, made of old stone and wood. Understated and calming. The Congressional delegation met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to discuss the implications of the pending free trade agreement.




The trip to Casa de Huspedes was on speedboats across the bay, giving us a chance to see the Cartagena skyline which bears some resemblance to Miami. Cartagena is a warm seaside city whose beaches are becoming a popular honeymoon location.


During our visit, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and his Colombian counterpart, Minister Plata met with the U.S. and Colombian press.

Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo

Medellin used to be the most violent city in the world. In the past five years it has transformed into a city where families once again feel safe on the streets, new businesses have opened and the government is making significant investment in infrastructure. The guiding hand for much of this remarkable renewal has been Mayor Sergio Fajardo. We had heard much about the mayor prior to coming to Colombia, with most using the adjective charismatic to describe him. We found that to be an apt description of him, and enjoyed our chance to chat about his city and his work. We also found that the Mayor has strong ties to the United States having received degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

Indufrial Foundation Tour

Our first stop in Cartagena was the Indufrial Foundation, a refrigerator manufacturing company that runs a job training program and small business incubator. The program receives funding from the U.S. government through USAID as well as from the Colombian government and Colombian businesses.

A large part of the Colombian population is in transition, forced from their homes from the decades of violence that has been prevalent across the country from drug lords, rebel groups and others. The government has made dramatic changes that have ended much of the violence, but now the challenge is to provide stable housing and employment for thousands of displaced and demobilized citizens. While at Indufrial we heard from young people who have received job training and support starting up their own businesses such as the young woman pictured here. You can sense a new excitement from these young people and hear the hope in their voices as they see a bright change for their future. The purpose of this trip is to show members of Congress this developing economy and how it is tied to the opportunities provided by a free trade agreement with the U.S.

Juan Valdez

Yes, that's Juan Valdez greeting us at our hotel in Cartagena. Colombia, of course, is known for its coffee and Juan Valdez is probably one of the most recognizable symbols of Colombian agriculture for Americans because of the extensive advertising campaign for Colombian coffee.

We're in Colombia

We made it to Colombia early afternoon Saturday. The weather in Cartagena can best be described as liquid. The temperature is in the mid 90s, but the humidity is like nothing we have ever experienced. Colombia is a beautiful country that is seeing rapid transformation. We look forward to telling you about that transformation over the next few days.

After a flurry of preparation, we are ready to make the trip to Colombia in the morning. Mike Adams has his passport and visa, and we are set to head out from Washington at 6 a.m. tomorrow. As you will see from the release below, our travels will take us to Cartagena and Medellin with visits to redevlopment sites, industry and a cut flower facility. The trip is with the U.S. Department of Commerce, so much of the focus will be on industry and labor issues, but we should not forget that agriculture trade is not negotiated in a vaccuum. All of the broad spectrum of trade interests must be negotiated as a whole and other sectors have a significant impact on the trade deals for American agriculture.



In anticipation of our trip, we spoke today on AgriTalk with Stewart Doan of the Yancey Ag Network about his recent trip to Colombia on a similar mission. He gave us a taste of what is in store for us.





We also spoke on AgriTalk today with Sean Spicer, Assistant U.S. Trade Represenative about the trip and the importance of the Colombian Free Trade Agreement.


We'll post more from Colombia Saturday evening.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 13, 2007


Secretary Gutierrez To Bring Fourth Administration Led Congressional Delegation to Colombia
Visit will Highlight Key Trade Pact For U.S. Exports and Security

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez announced today he will bring a fourth Administration led U.S. Congressional delegation to Colombia, Nov 17-19 to continue the push to advance the U.S.-Colombia trade deal by showing Members of Congress the remarkable transformation taking place in Colombia.

“Congress has already given Colombian exporters free access to the U.S. market. With this trade agreement, Congress can give U.S. farmers, workers and businesses similar access to the Colombian market,” said Gutierrez.

“Colombia is making tremendous progress. Violence is down, unemployment is down, inflation is down and investment and opportunity is up. Members of Congress will see first hand how a Colombia trade agreement will promote our exports and help an important ally continue to improve stability in our hemisphere,” added Gutierrez.

In 2006, more than 90 percent of Colombia’s imports into the United States entered duty-free under unilateral U.S. trade preference programs, such as the Andean Trade Preferences and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), or under zero Most Favored Nations (MFN) tariffs. This FTA will level the playing field by providing duty-free treatment for U.S. exports to the fast-growing Colombian market. After Canada and Mexico, Colombia is the largest export market for U.S. farm products in the hemisphere.
The congressional delegation includes (subject to change): Rep. Ben Chandler (D-KY-6); Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-11); Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX-11); Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-20); Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA-2); Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH-11); Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY-6); Rep. John Salazar (D-CO-3); Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR); and Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC-12).
The two-day visit will start in Cartagena, Colombia, where the U.S. delegation will meet with President Uribe and his Cabinet to discuss the pending trade agreement with Colombia. Secretary Gutierrez and the delegation will also meet with labor leaders that both support and oppose the FTA and discuss the Uribe Administration’s efforts to reduce violence against trade unionists and address concerns of Members of Congress on human rights issues. The delegation will also see how the U.S. and Colombian governments are working together to improve the quality of life for Afro-Colombians, displaced citizens and indigenous Colombians. Such efforts include helping local youths receive job training, mental health counseling and job placement assistance in an effort to boost formal employment and entrepreneurship. Gutierrez and Members of Congress will also meet with a Colombian labor violence prosecutor to discuss the Uribe Administration’s efforts to prosecute the perpetrators of violence against trade union leaders.

The visit will conclude in Medellin where the Secretary and the delegation will tour Santo Domingo Savio, a portion of Medellin once so dangerous that police officers could not patrol it – where they will see the Uribe Administration’s commitment to promoting positive economic and social change and the significant reduction in the level of violence in Colombia. They will also witness Colombia’s plans for integrating former paramilitary members – known in Colombia as the “demobilized” – back into civil society and the formal economy.

The last stop will include a visit to a flower farm on the outskirts of Medellin. The fresh-cut flower industry in Colombia has emerged as a sustainable alternative to drug crop production. Fresh-cut flower exports have been a major success story under the ATPDEA, with exports to the U.S. valued at $450 million in 2006. The industry employs over 110,000 Colombians directly, many of whom are female heads of household, displaced persons and or members of the indigenous community. These flower exports enter the U.S. market duty-free and this trade supports an estimated 230,000 U.S. jobs, according to the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters.

Background: Bilateral free trade agreements are one of the best ways to open up foreign markets for U.S. exporters. Currently more than 100 regional trade agreements are being negotiated around the world. Today, the United States has implemented FTAs with 14 countries. Last year, trade with countries with which the United States has FTAs was significantly greater than their relative share of the global economy. Although comprising 7.5 percent of global GDP, not including the United States, those FTA countries accounted for more than 42 percent of U.S. exports.

The United States is Colombia’s leading trade partner, accounting for 39.6 percent of Colombia’s exports and supplying 26.4 percent of the country’s imports in 2006. Colombia-U.S. bilateral trade has almost doubled over the past decade, from $9 billion a year in 1996 to approximately $16 billion in two-way trade in 2006, due in large part to the ATPDEA. Colombia is currently the 29th largest export market for U.S. goods. For more information, please visit http://trade.gov/fta/index.asp.