Colombia Free Trade Agreement Needed

 

Howard Melamed
CEO, CellAntenna Corporation

 

Last month, as part of our ongoing efforts to expand our business, CellAntenna Corporation decided to go to Colombia on a fact-finding mission. A woman-owned small business headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida, CellAntenna provides solutions to poor signal coverage inside buildings as well as products that support the cellular industry. We entered the export business three years ago to increase our sales. Since then, we have doubled our staff and increased our revenues by 50%. Exports have allowed us to establish subsidiary companies in London, England, and Lodz, Poland. Because of CAFTA and NAFTA, our exports to Mexico and Central American countries have increased dramatically. We see the same opportunities in Colombia.

 

Our decision to expand into Colombia was easy given that country's growing population of 44 million and the more than $8 billion in U.S. exports shipped there. With the help of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Gold Key Service, we met with government officials and private business leaders over a three-day period. By the end of our visit, we were already providing quotes on our products and had a good idea of what is required to do business in that country. However, the major stumbling block to deals was the issue of tariffs imposed by Colombia on our goods, which increase costs to our potential customers. Every Colombian who wants to do business and buy our products is asking us the same question: When will the United States pass a free trade agreement with Colombia?  

 

Colombian businesspeople say it's absurd that the American government can spend so much money fighting the drug cartels in Colombia and yet not recoup some of these expenses by giving American businesses increased access to the Colombian market.

 

In the current trading arrangement, Colombia exports enter the United States duty free, while U.S. exports to Colombia are slapped with tariffs averaging 14% for manufactured goods and much higher for agricultural products. A free trade agreement with Colombia would give U.S. businesses the same access that their competitors from other countries already enjoy through free trade agreements with Colombia. Colombians see this as only fair-especially for a true friend and partner in the war on drugs.

 

CellAntenna has learned from experience that there is no better way to grow our business, create jobs, and help strengthen the U.S. economy than by expanding into overseas markets. If the competitive playing field is level, American businesses and entrepreneurs can and will win in the global economy.

 

The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is a good deal for American businesses, workers, and farmers. Congress should stop playing politics and pass this agreement now.