Andean Trade Preference Act Extension

Floor Speech

ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT EXTENSION -- (House of Representatives - June 27, 2007)

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Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as most of us know, some time ago in 1991, President Bush, with bipartisan support, reached out to the Andean countries and extended favorable treatment as related to their exports to the United States.

This has proven successful in making it possible for these countries to get substitute crops for coca, and, therefore, it has been tremendously successful in building up a market for the people in this area, as well as people in the United States of America.

Right now, however, there are four free trade agreements that are pending that haven't passed the House as yet, which includes, of course, Peru. So as we speak, there are two countries for which free trade agreements have not been negotiated, Colombia and Peru. If we were to allow this provision to expire, we would find ourselves in the situation where these countries and their tariffs would be in disarray.

Because of the shortness of notice, and because we have to avoid the expiration, I have been able to work with Mr. McCrery in our committee to get, not a 2-year extension that we would really want, but at least an 8-month extension to avoid irreparable damage from being caused during this period, at which time we will again able to review the situation in the free trade agreements and also the substance of the continuation of the Andean Trade Preference Act, trade promotion agreements.

I also would like to say, in working with Mr. McCrery of the committee, the Members of this House should know that the cooperative spirit in which we got this extension extended to the point that we had to really go to the other Chamber in order to work out what we're able to do today.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. RANGEL. Let me thank my dear friend from Washington and indicate that I share your concern. At the end of the day, America must have a trade policy that helps workers here at home and provides opportunities for workers overseas. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, I can assure you that I will work with you and others to be sure that we can improve our trade policy as it relates to developing countries.

In the case of GSP and the benefits the administration may propose to eliminate, let me make it abundantly clear that on our watch we're going to expand opportunities to the developing world and not curtail them.

I'm pleased to know that you're working on some innovative ways to improve our trading ties with Africa and Least Developed Nations. Let it be clear to you, the Congress and everyone else that if the administration proposes to impose tariffs on products coming from poor countries, and that such tariffs serve no development purpose, I will be working with you to move toward legislation to prevent that from happening.

And let me add this, that your constant concern about making America look like it's a country for freedom and opportunity and providing trade with these nations has been indicated by your leadership in the African growth and opportunity bill, the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and I hope to continue to work with you to bring opportunities for people in developing countries and make our country all that she can be.

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