BOGOTA - Deputy United States Trade Representative, Jayme White, met with Colombian Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Luis Felipe Quintero, on Tuesday October 25, 2022. Both sides agreed to convene technical committees in areas of mutual interest in the coming months, in preparation for the next meeting of the U.S. – Colombia Free Trade Commission (FTC) of the Trade Promotion Agreement that entered into force more than 10 years ago.
The two hundred years of U.S.-Colombia bilateral strategic relations are defined by a shared and unwavering commitment to democratic principles, and advancing human rights and environmental priorities. Ambassador White and Deputy Minister of Trade Quintero recognized the importance of alignment in the trade agendas of both countries. This creates an opportunity to increase trade, investment, tourism, and cooperation between the United States and Colombia to foster economic prosperity by promoting policies that can help build resilient supply chains.
The United States and Colombia noted a shared commitment to trade policy that takes special interest in workers, including work on the Labor Action Plan; environment and sustainability; food safety; underrepresented groups; and engagement with small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Both deputies agreed that USTR and the Colombia Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism have constructively worked together to implement the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) commitments since its entry into force in May 2012.
Both delegations agreed to engage extensively in technical meetings from now through the first quarter of 2023 and to hold a meeting of the FTC afterwards to review trade and economic developments related to the CTPA. Of note, the Trade Capacity Building committee will meet for the first time ever to discuss cooperation opportunities for capacity building in order to help Colombian SMEs enter global supply chains and enhance their participation in bilateral trade.
The meeting served to set the agenda for future work, and to explore opportunities for the historic and strategic regional allies to work together under the framework of the CTPA.
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