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LEARNING ACTIVITY 11

EVIDENCE NUMBER 3

Presented by:

ANDRES FELIPE PEÑA FRANCO

JOSE HELBERT VARGAS VARGAS

Bilingualism Instructor

SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE (SENA)

Technology in International Negotiation

Bogotá Colombia, June 15, 2019

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Table of Contents

Page.

Introduction. ……………………………………………………………………………………..3

1. Essay Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Advantages and disadvantages. …………………4

Conclusions. ……………………………………………………………………………………...6

Bibliographic references. ………………………………………………………………………..7

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Introduction

With the FTA with the United States, the situation for Colombia is already complicated by the

huge losses, but the worst has not arrived. The tariff reduction Schedule of the FTA is organized

into categories and products in periods ranging from 0 to 15 years. This means that since january

2016, the second phase of full tariff reduction has been completed, which would cover 91% of

agricultural products and 79% of non – agricultural products.

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Essay Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Advantages and disadvantages

FTA went into effect on May 15, 2012, signed between Juan Manuel Santos and Barack Obama at

the Summit of the Americas witout possesing a due date but with the possibility of seeking

reforms or termination by each of the parties.

The Labor Action plan – PAL or the Obama – Santos Agreement, the 37 commitments made

were not met, no action was reached and no goal or indicator of compliance was established. A

follow – up mechanism was not created with the participation of trade union organizations, and the

worst: no adequate public policies were formulated on labor inspection, labor formalization,

protection of freedom of association, prevention of violnce or overcomimg of impunity.

Likewise, the signature in 2011 of the PAL that was the key tool to ensure the passage og the

FTA between both countriies by the US congress and its subsequent signature and presidential

ratification, has not meant progress since after of five years of implementation of the PAL there

are 14, 090,880 workes in a situation of labor informality, that is 887,680 more tan they had in that

year. In 2015, there were 3, 813,880 workers in ilegal labor relations, 351,680 more tan in 2011.

Let’s see what are the main disadvantages of the agreement.

 Emerging economies lose.

 Complicated competition to sustain for national industries.

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 They are not equitable as multilaterial agreements.

 Imbalance of the internal economy and lack of protection of productive sectors Little

benefited with the negotiation of the treaty.

 Little capacity of adaptation of the national companies in front of the international

production standars, generating monopolies and capture of the marjkert by the North

American offer that enters the country.

And now let’s see the “Advantages”

 Colombian businessmen can sell their products and services abroad under better

conditions, without paying taxes, without being subject to other barriers.

 United States “Helps” to Colombia because the lack of trade barriers makes exporting

easy and relatively cheap. In this way Colombia can focus its resources more efficiently

and achieve a higher real income.

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Conclusions

Colombia is not a threat to the US im political and economic matters, since the total production of

the country is only ¼ of the production. Colombia is small in the impact that it can generate in the

North American production therefore the economist consider that the FTA will be generous.

It is clear that the purposes of the PAL, its commitments and measures remain relevant and

neccesary. The reduction of informality and labor illegality, the protection of freedom of

association, the eradication of anti – unioin violence, the overcoming of impunity and the

improvement of Access to justice for workers are and will continue to necessary and much more.

This moment in which the main challenge of the actors of the world of work will be to contribute

to the construction of lasting peace. But, in the other hand , the conclusions are not positive.
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Bibliographic references

2.1 ABC de los derechos humanos. (2016). 5 año del TLC con Estados Unidos: El gran engaño.

Recuperado de

https://www.colectivodeabogados.org/?5-ano-del-TLC-con-Estados-Unidos-El-gran-engano

2.2 W siliconWeek. (2015). TLC en Colombia: un análisis a las ventajas y desventajas de nuevos

Tratados de Libre Comercio. Recuperado de

https://www.siliconweek.com/cloud/tlc-en-colombia-un-analisis-a-las-ventajas-y-desventajas-de-

nuevos-tratados-de-libre-comercio-60361

2.3 Colombia Digital. (2012) ¿Qué es el TLC Colombia – Estados Unidos? Recuperado de

https://colombiadigital.net/actualidad/articulos-informativos/item/2057-que-es-el-tlc-colombia-

estados-unidos.html

2.4 PROCOLOMBIA. (Año desconocido). TLC Colombia – Estados Unidos. Recuperado de

http://www.procolombia.co/node/677

2.5 FOREIGN AFFAIRS LATINO AMÉRICA. (2017). El TLC de Colombia con Estados Unidos:

una breve revisión. Recuperado de

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http://revistafal.com/el-tlc-de-colombia-con-estados-unidos-una-breve-revision/

2.6 Portafolio. (2011). Beneficios del TLC entre Colombia y Estados Unidos. Recuperado de

https://www.portafolio.co/negocios/empresas/beneficios-tlc-colombia-estados-unidos-151112

2.7 Dinero. (2019). Entonces: ¿Ha servido el TLC con Estados Unidos? Recuperado de

https://www.dinero.com/economia/articulo/balance-del-tlc-entre-colombia-y-estados-

unidos/271679