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Congressman Engel Statement on the Andean Free Trade Agreement
Wednesday June 27, 2007
I am in possession of a letter from the AFL-CIO which gives its approval of these agreements.
Moreover, I feel that without the extension of ATPA, many of the unemployed in the Andean region would turn to drug cultivation after they lose their jobs. The Andean preference program was originally created not only to support economic development in the region but also to divert illegal coca manufacturing toward legitimate industries. Using these trade preferences as a tool in the drug war is still very important today.
Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by mentioning that President Bush recently traveled to five countries in the Americas in an effort to reinvigorate our partnership with our friends in the region. Prior to his trip, President Bush said that ``The working poor of Latin America need change, and the United States of America is committed to that change.' I believe that the extension of ATPA can help bring this well-needed change to our friends in the Andean region.
I want to emphasize that in my travels in the region, the region feels that the United States is looking elsewhere and is not engaged. The worst thing we could do would be not to pass this because it would prove their fears. We need to pass this. We need to do it quickly, and I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support this.