Free Trade Agreement

Meredith Aby, a leader of the Colombia Action Network slammed the Bush administration's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia stating, "We should oppose the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia because it is an attempt by Bush to promote corporate interests at the expense of the working people of Colombia. Colombia is already the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist. The U.S. has spent billions of dollars supporting the repressive Colombian government which sponsors death squads. These death squads kill and attack trade union organizers and anyone else who questions Colombian President Uribe's right-wing agenda. This free trade deal would be like adding fuel to a fire."

As U.S. lawmakers are busy focusing on domestic politics and the U.S. presidential elections in November, major multinationals like DHL and business groups like the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) are anxious to see Congress move on free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.