Bush Signs Andean Trade Preference Act Extension

This week, on October 16th, Bush signed the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension in order to promote economic growth in the Western Hemisphere. Like he has done in many other speeches in which he addresses the bills he has signed or plans to sign, Bush commended the legislative branch on its bipartisan voting practices. Bush states that "Now that members of Congress have ensured duty-free access for American -- South American products entering our markets, they also need to ensure duty-free access for U.S. products entering South American markets. Congress has a good opportunity to take a step in that direction by approving our free trade agreement with Colombia." Bush claims that 90 percent of Colombian products that are exported to America, not counting the drugs of course, are completely duty free but there is still the problem of the high tariffs on the American goods being exported into Colombia. When Congress comes back to Washington Bush hopes that this, along with similar agreements with Panama and South Korea, will be one of their priorities. He believes that these agreements will strengthen America's relationship with its allies while also benefitting the economy of said allies.