SUPPORT COLOMBIA: The letter was signed by CEO's like Rick Wagoner of General Motors (top) and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft (above). (Photos: GM and Microsoft)
Open letter to the US Congress from the CEO's of Citibank, Coca-Cola, General Motors, ExxonMobil, Microsoft and more.
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders Reid, Boehner, and McConnell:
Congress soon will decide whether to move forward with pro-growth and pro-rule-of-law policies in the Western Hemisphere or step back from a key ally. We urge Congress to strengthen American engagement and solidify American ties by approving the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) as expeditiously as possible during the 110th Congress.
The U.S.-Colombia TPA: • Will eliminate barriers to U.S. farm products, manufactured goods and services in the world’s second largest Spanish-speaking country. • Will provide new sales opportunities for small, medium and large companies and their employees, as well as American farmers and ranchers. • Will promote sustainable and legitimate economic opportunities for the people of Colombia.
Congress’ vote on the U.S.-Colombia TPA will shape the next decade of America’s engagement with our hemisphere. • Approval will strengthen ties with one of America’s strongest allies in Latin America. • Approval of the U.S.-Colombia TPA, along with the TPAs with Peru and Panama, will revitalize our commercial relations and send a strong signal to the entire Western Hemisphere of U.S. commitment and friendship at a time of considerable political and economic change.
Some say Colombia should do more to combat abuses and prosecute perpetrators of violence before Congress moves forward with the U.S.-Colombia TPA. Improving the rule of law in Colombia is vital, but delaying approval of the U.S.-Colombia TPA is not the answer. Delaying approval will not solve Colombia’s internal problems – which Colombia’s government, under the leadership of President Alvaro Uribe, continues to address with significant success. Delaying approval will undermine the U.S.-Colombia relationship, which has been a significant factor in promoting Colombia’s progress.
Our geographic proximity no longer guarantees an American competitive edge in the large and vibrant Latin American market. We urge all Members of Congress to look closely at what is at stake in our own hemisphere and vote to support American engagement and economic opportunity by approving the U.S.-Colombia TPA as expeditiously as possible.
At the same time, we recognize that the Colombia TPA is but a component of the U.S. trade agenda, including Doha and a number of other pending trade agreements, and urge the Congress to support that agenda as well to help accelerate pro-growth and pro-rule-of-law policies.
Respectfully,
Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and Chairman, Emergency Committee for American Trade
Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ExxonMobil Corporation
Gregory R. Page, Chief Executive Officer, Cargill, Incorporated
John G. Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Infrastructure
James W. Owens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Caterpillar, Inc
G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors Corporation
William R. Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Citibank N.A.
Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IBM Corporation
Neville Isdell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
Paul S. Otellini, President and Chief Executive Officer, Intel Corporation
Steven A. Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft
Richard K. Templeton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Texas Instruments Inc
Safra Catz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oracle
George W. Buckely Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, 3M
A.G. Lafley, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, The Procter & Gamble Company
H. Lee Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Edward Gonzalez, President and Chief Executive Officer, Seaboard Marine, LPD
Anne M. Mulcahy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Xerox Corporation
Robert J. Ulrich, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Target Corporation
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From: Leonard and Ellen Zablow, New York City The following Washington Post story contradicts the basic premise of the letter, that the leadership of President Uribe is interested in improving the condition of the people in Colombia: "A Colombian congressman and member of President Alvaro Uribe's coalition was sent to jail for six years on Wednesday for his links to illegal right-wing militias, the first lawmaker to fall in a spreading scandal."
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