On the eve of the one-year anniversary of a landmark bipartisan trade deal, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) yesterday sent the following letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) outlining why passing the Colombia trade agreement would serve as the kind of economic stimulus she has said the country needs to help our economy. In the letter, Blunt emphasized eliminating the costly tariffs on American farmers, workers and businesses are forced to pay because of her decision to shelve congressional consideration of the agreement:

May 9, 2008

Speaker of the House
Hon. Nancy Pelosi
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

As you know, tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of the agreement reached by a bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators with the current Administration on the best way to negotiate future and current trade agreements. In the resulting year, the Administration reopened and renegotiated our nation's trade deals, including our agreement with Colombia, to include enhanced environmental and labor standards.

At the press conference announcing the agreement you rightly said that "our economic future rests on our ability to open new markets for our U.S. goods and services so that we can continue to capitalize upon the innovative spirit of the American people." I couldn't agree with you more.

I also note your recent comments that you could still bring the Colombia Trade Promotion Act to the floor of the House, but Congress must first act "to address the worsening economy in our country.

Consistent with your statements, it only makes sense that passing free trade agreements just like the one with Colombia would stimulate our economy, create jobs and strengthen our economic influence abroad. Exports account for more than 40 percent of our nation's gross domestic product, over 31 million American jobs are linked to exports, and trade with
Colombia approached $18 billion last year alone.

However, because of your decision to shelve this agreement, American farmers, workers and businesses have lost over a billion dollars due to unnecessary, burdensome tariffs that the Colombia trade agreement would repeal. This is all the more unfair since Congress overwhelmingly extended the Andean Trade Preferences Agreement that virtually eliminates tariffs on Colombian goods coming into the United States. Being for fair trade should mean that we take up and pass this agreement, so our economy - our businesses, farmers, and workers - can stand on a level-playing field.

I respectfully ask you to consider the economic benefits that relieving onerous tariffs and encouraging U.S. exports would have on our export-driven economy during these economically challenging times. As such, the Colombia Trade Promotion Act is more than a trade agreement; it is exactly the type of economic growth package that you have repeatedly have said you would support.

Sincere regards,

Roy Blunt
Republican Whip

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