Failure to Ratify U.S.-Colombian Agreement Could Cost Producers Millions

Colombian wheat buyers and millers warn that U.S. wheat sales to Colombia would likely drop by more than 50% if Congress fails to soon ratify the U.S.-Columbia free trade agreement. According to officials from U.S. Wheat Associates lack of action would cost U.S. wheat producers more than $87 million in annual sales.

Once ratified, the U.S.-Colombia FTA will immediately eliminate most tariffs on U.S. exports, including wheat, with all remaining tariffs phased out over time. Canada is expected to ratify its own FTA with Colombia this fall. U.S. Wheat Associates says that agreement will give a major wheat-exporting competitor an immediate price advantage over U.S. wheat exports.

U.S. Wheat Associates is hosting Colombian representatives in Washington this week. USWA is the wheat industry's market development organization working in 90 countries on behalf of America's wheat producers.