Project Vote Smart

Legislation - Signed (Executive) - Oct. 21, 2011

Legislation - Bill Passed (Senate) - Oct. 12, 2011 (Key vote)

Title: Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that approves and implements the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, effective January 1, 2012.

Highlight: -Authorizes preferential tariff treatment for safeguard goods (Sec. 202). -Defines a "safeguard good" as an originating good or a good for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made (Sec. 202). -Defines "preferential tariff treatment" as the customs duty rate for an originating good (Sec. 203). -Defines an "originating good" as a good that (Sec. 203):

-Is wholly obtained in Colombia, the United States, or both nations; -Is produced entirely in Colombia, the United States, or both nations exclusively from originating materials; or -Consists of originating and non-originating materials, and any non-originating materials used to make the good have undergone a regional value content calculation and subsequent change in tariff classification.

-Reduces additional duties on safeguard goods as follows (Sec. 202):

-100 percent of the excess of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate of duty over the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) rate of duty for years 1 through 4 of this agreement; -75 percent of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate of duty over the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) rate of duty for years 5 through 7 of this agreement; and -50 percent of the excess of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate of duty over the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) rate of duty for years 8 and 9 of this agreement.

-Authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to suspend preferential tariff treatment if the agency or the Department of Homeland Security determines that an importer, exporter, or producer has misrepresented goods as originating goods, and that such misrepresentation is part of a "pattern of conduct" (Sec. 205). -Requires the President to repeal Colombia's Generalized System of Preferences status as a beneficiary developing country upon the effective date of this Agreement (Sec. 201). -Extends the Andean Trade Preference Act, which authorizes preferential tariff treatment for goods exported from Andean region countries, from February 12, 2011 to July 31, 2013 (Sec. 501). -This act is effective January 1, 2012 (Sec. 101).

Legislation - Bill Passed (House) - Oct. 12, 2011 (Key vote)

Title: Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that approves and implements the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, effective January 1, 2012.

Highlight: -Authorizes preferential tariff treatment for safeguard goods (Sec. 202). -Defines a "safeguard good" as an originating good or a good for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made (Sec. 202). -Defines "preferential tariff treatment" as the customs duty rate for an originating good (Sec. 203). -Defines an "originating good" as a good that (Sec. 203):

-Is wholly obtained in Colombia, the United States, or both nations; -Is produced entirely in Colombia, the United States, or both nations exclusively from originating materials; or -Consists of originating and non-originating materials, and any non-originating materials used to make the good have undergone a regional value content calculation and subsequent change in tariff classification.

-Reduces additional duties on safeguard goods as follows (Sec. 202):

-100 percent of the excess of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate of duty over the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) rate of duty for years 1 through 4 of this agreement; -75 percent of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate of duty over the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) rate of duty for years 5 through 7 of this agreement; and -50 percent of the excess of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate of duty over the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) rate of duty for years 8 and 9 of this agreement.

-Authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to suspend preferential tariff treatment if the agency or the Department of Homeland Security determines that an importer, exporter, or producer has misrepresented goods as originating goods, and that such misrepresentation is part of a "pattern of conduct" (Sec. 205). -Requires the President to repeal Colombia's Generalized System of Preferences status as a beneficiary developing country upon the effective date of this Agreement (Sec. 201). -Extends the Andean Trade Preference Act, which authorizes preferential tariff treatment for goods exported from Andean region countries, from February 12, 2011 to July 31, 2013 (Sec. 501). -This act is effective January 1, 2012 (Sec. 101).

Legislation - Introduced (House) - Oct. 3, 2011

Title: Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia