Calling for Free Trade with Colombia, David Rivera Makes Congressional Debut

Newly inaugurated Florida Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera made his maiden speech in Congress on Friday, calling for free trade between the U.S. and Colombia.

Colombia is Americas fourth largest trading partner in Latin America, and the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that 9,000 American companies trade with Colombia, most of which are small businesses, and many of which operate in my district in South Florida, said Rivera. While 90 percent of Colombian goods enter the U.S. duty-free, American companies still pay tariffs for U.S. goods to enter Colombia.

The Colombia Free Trade Agreement would eliminate obstacles and immediately boost U.S. exports to Colombia. By passing a free trade agreement with Colombia, U.S. GDP would increase by roughly $2.5 billion and exports by over a billion, creating thousands of jobs in the U.S., Rivera continued. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is also a positive foreign-policy gesture to one of our most reliable allies in the region, and the oldest continuously functioning democracy in South America. Mr. Speaker, its time to stand with one of our best allies in Latin America and create thousands of jobs here at home with passage of a Colombia Free Trade Agreement.