U.S.-Colombia FTA News

After meeting with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Colombian President Iván Duque said on Sunday that the U.S. and Colombia should bolster bilateral trade relations via a “more innovative agenda.”

The signing of the law completes a process that began several years ago, despite U.S. concerns trade concerns.

The op-ed says several countries “are abusing compulsory licensing laws, which allow domestic manufacturers to infringe on foreign inventors' patents to create copycat products.”

The U.S. could suspend some benefits under its free trade agreement with Colombia if a truck-scrapping program is not terminated by the end of December, according to sources and documents.

Trade officials from Washington and Bogota met this week to review the implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, with the U.S flagging “issues of concern” similar to those it raised during Colombia’s accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

“What I want is that we diversify products, bring more investment and improve the 'phytosanitary diplomacy.' We managed to get mango and avocado to the USA. but you have to open the door to more products.”

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in its annual Special 301 report on the state of intellectual property protection and enforcement by U.S. trading partners, has elevated Canada and Colombia to its list of most egregious intellectual property violators and also spotlighted continued IP concerns it has with China.

“We think we’ve done everything that is necessary and that being said we are very optimistic that we can conclude the process.”