Baldado de agua fría de Obama al TLC
Por Juan Carlos Iragorri, Corresponsal de semana en EE.UU.
En la agenda oficial sobre comercio exterior del presidente de EE.UU., Barack Obama, divulgada hoy por primera vez, queda claro que no habrá TLC Colombia Mientras no cambie sus leyes laborales y Proteja a los Sindicalistas.
Cuando mucha gente Esperaba lo contrario, el Gobierno de Estados Unidos le echo hoy un baldado de agua fría al Tratado de Libre Comercio con Colombia (TLC). Ocurrió antes del mediodía, en momentos en que Ron Kirk, el Alto Representante Comercial (USTR por sus siglas en castellano) anuncio la agenda del presidente norteamericano Barack Obama sobre la materia y señaló que, antes de que el Congreso estadounidense Someta un Votación el acuerdo, Colombia Debe reformar leyes laborales y las Asegurar el libre ejercicio del derecho de los Sindicalistas.
Después de advertir que "la correcta Implementación de los Tratados de Libre Comercio con Panamá, Colombia y Corea del Sur" Podría traer "Beneficios económicos y estratégicos SIGNIFICATIVOS", el texto añade que se ha "empezado un con Colombia para trabajar Mejorar el Código Laboral Y las Medidas que permitan el ejercicio de los derechos de los Sindicalistas ". Esto, en plata blanca, es más de lo mismo. Desde la firma del TLC el 22 de noviembre de 2006, la bancada demócrata, mayoritaria en el Congreso norteamericano y encabezada por la presidenta de la Cámara de Representantes, Nancy Pelosi, ha insistido en ambos aspectos.
Una Idéntica postura de Obama había mostrado antes de su posesión el 20 de enero de 2009, pero dio señales Distintas No con sólo en su Discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión A principios de este año sino en una entrevista A comienzos del pasado febrero la revista de negocios semana en la que dijo Qué iba a Presionar al Congreso para que aprobara el TLC. Ahora, sin embargo, ha vuelto a cambiar de parecer y lo ha Hecho en el documento sobre comercio oficial. La parte pertinente se encuentra en el Capítulo III. Se anexan apartes del documento.
PRESIDENT'S 2010 TRADE POLICY AGENDA FOCUSES ON GROWING AMERICAN JOBS
THROUGH NEW MARKET ACCESS AND ENFORCING TRADE RULES
2010 outlook promises to seize new opportunities, build on existing agreements to bring benefits of trade to American businesses and workers
Washington, D.C. - United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk issued a statement today upon the delivery to Congress of President Obama's 2010 Trade Policy Agenda and 2009 Annual Report.
The United States Trade Representative is the President's principal trade advisor, negotiator and spokesperson on trade issues, and USTR is the lead agency responsible for the development of the President's Trade Policy Agenda, which by statute must be delivered to Congress by March 1 of each year. The Agenda and Report released today review the Administration's progress on trade issues and outline future objectives.
The President has set a goal of doubling U.S. exports in the next five years to support another two million American jobs. The 2010 trade agenda explains how USTR will support this National Export Initiative through new market openings and trade enforcement, as part of a broader strategy that seeks to strengthen the global trading system and reflect American values as we uphold our commitments around the world.
"Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States, and the President's trade agenda will help to get American workers and businesses access to as many of those customers as possible - in ways that affirm our rights in the global trading system and that reflect American values on worker rights, the environment, and open dialogue here at home," said Ambassador Kirk. "The priorities in this Agenda can work to strengthen the rules-based global trading system on which the nations of the world depend, while opening markets and ensuring that American businesses and workers receive the economic benefits of trade."
The full text of the President's 2010 Trade Policy Agenda is online now at www.ustr.gov/2010-trade-policy-agenda. Highlights of the Agenda include key commitments to:
Support and strengthen a rules-based trading system. The United States strongly supports an ambitious and balanced Doha agreement that liberalizes three core market access areas - agriculture, goods and services. An agreement that boosts the world economy, supports jobs here at home, and assists poor countries can be reached if all major economies come to the negotiating table.
Enforce American rights in the rules-based trading system. In 2009, the Obama Administration responded to Americans' calls for more vigilant enforcement of our trade rights. In 2010, USTR will strengthen further monitoring and enforcement, bringing cases at the WTO as necessary. We will increase focus on non-tariff barriers that hinder U.S. exports. We will fully enforce labor and environmental rights in trade agreements.
Enhance U.S. growth, job creation and innovation. Deeper engagement with major emerging markets is critical for American trade prospects and the realization of trade's benefits in terms of economic growth, well-paying jobs here at home, and support for American innovation. We will emphasize bilateral relations with such markets as well as with long-standing key partners, and will pursue regional engagement, particularly the President's intention to negotiate a Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement to access key markets in the Asia-Pacific for decades to come.
Work to resolve outstanding issues with pending FTAs and build on existing agreements. Proper resolution and implementation of the pending FTAs with Panama, Colombia and Korea can bring significant economic benefits. In 2010, we will continue to consult with Congress and the public and to engage with these nations to address outstanding issues; we will also strengthen relationships with current partners such as Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the European Union, and seek to maximize returns on the economic opportunities of existing agreements.
