Nation’s CEOs support Colombia trade pact

According to their press release today, the Business Roundtable convened a policy meeting with CEOs of major companies and members of Congress to urge lawmakers to pass the implementing legislation for the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

The FTA is being held up indefinitely by Congress, which had negated the 90-day time period for them to consider the legislation after President Bush had submitted it.

The business leaders said that it was in the economic interests of the U.S. to approve the agreement:

“U.S. workers and companies need better market access so that their goods and services are not isolated from important markets, like the thriving Colombian economy,” stated Jim Owens, chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc. and chairman of Business Roundtable’s International Trade and Investment Task Force. “With nearly one in five jobs tied to trade and American exports accounting for one-quarter of U.S. economic growth, we cannot turn our backs on free trade agreements like the Colombia FTA that promise fair rules and expanded economic opportunities for our workers,” Owens continued.

That’s only one of the many reasons the FTA should be supported.  See some of our previous comments here and here.