US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA5223

UNCLAS BOGOTA 005223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, KPAO, OPRC, PREL, SNAR, PGOV, CO, FTA 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: FREE TRADE 
 
1. Leading editorial in Medellin-based daily El Colombiano (5/31) 
entitled: "FTA Is A Priority," notes: 
 
"The negotiations on a free trade agreement with the U.S. are entering 
their final phase.  We are starting to hear a few voices expressing a 
lack of enthusiasm due to an unhurried process, as well as alarming 
voices predicting the imminent wreck of trade activities.  We are also 
perceiving certain ambiguity inside the public sector regarding the 
priority the top government is giving to finishing the negotiations and 
to the usefulness of the agreement...Although, it is understandable 
that in an ambitious, complex and long-lasting project blown-up 
expectations and particular interests at risk create dissatisfaction, 
there also seems to be a misunderstanding by a few who compare a free 
trade agreement with a U.S. assistance program... Such voices sound 
like an unfortunate threat to the U.S. negotiating team for several 
reasons.  First, they open the way to sending the public the wrong idea 
that Colombia is doing the U.S. a favor by signing a free trade 
agreement.  To threaten is a nasty mechanism... Second, we must keep in 
mind that a free trade agreement with the U.S. after 2006 is crucial to 
Colombia. Almost 45 percent of Colombian exports go to the U.S. market; 
Colombia will be in disadvantage in front of others in the region when 
ATPDEA expires and a FTA with the U.S. isn't in place." 
 
2. Op-Ed by the academic Roberto Gonzalez-Arana in Barranquilla-based 
daily El Heraldo (5/31) entitled: "FTA: Where Are We Heading?" states: 
 
"Many changes are possible via the free trade policy.  Now, Colombia is 
entering 'the used fashion' mode with the endorsement of the central 
Government. First there was the rumor that used clothes would come in 
under a FTA...Most recently the import of 3,000 used trucks has been 
authorized by the Ministry of Transport affecting the automobile 
industry and in contradiction with the accords under the World Trade 
Organization...Do we really know where we are heading in terms of free 
trade? 
 
3. Op-ed by former Minister of Treasury Rudolf Hommes in economic daily 
Portafolio (5/30) entitled: "Let Them Stay Away!" notes: 
 
"The Association of Colombian Farmers with the backing of the Business 
Associations wants to impede the Colombian Government from attending 
the next round of FTA talks in Guayaquil...Pressuring the U.S. for 
answers is not the problem; it is just that this is not the right time 
to do it, especially when the US farm lobby, as blind and irresponsible 
as our own, is trying to torpedo the FTA with Central America... The 
Colombian Government would be wrong to stand up the United States in 
Guayaquil to pressure for something that is not going to happen." 
 
4. Cover story in weekly Semana (5/30) headline: "FTA Crisis," notes: 
"The agricultural issue has the trade negotiations with the U.S. at a 
sinking point." 
 
WOOD