High-Tech Exports to Colombia Jumped by 19 Percent in 2005
U.S. Free Trade Agreement with Colombia Expands Trade, Promotes Stability

Washington, DC (March 9, 2006) - AeA releases a new report on the impact of trade between the United States and Colombia. The report, "Free Trade Colombia," finds that high-tech goods exports to Colombia totaled over $1 billion in 2005, up 19 percent from the previous year.

"While Colombia is not a huge market for U.S. high-tech products, we do have a significant tech trade surplus with Colombia," said Rob Mulligan, AeA's Senior Vice President International. "Furthermore, bilateral trade agreements such as the U.S. Colombia Trade Agreement can strengthen ties and foster free markets and stability in a region that is struggling with both."

"As part of the free trade pact, Colombia has also agreed to greater protection for intellectual property rights and open, non-discriminatory policies towards digital products and telecommunication networks," said Mulligan. "Ultimately, this helps create American jobs as it opens the Colombian marketplace to U.S. products and services."

The report released today is part of AeA's ongoing Competitiveness Series, which analyzes issues of importance to the high-tech industry. The previous report analyzed high-tech merchandize trade between the United States and Peru.

All installments of the AeA Competitiveness Series can be found at: www.aeanet.org/cs.
 

- # # # -

About AeA