In an op-ed for the Washington Times, Shankar Singham—a partner with global law firm and COA member Squire Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P. —warns against anti-free trade rhetoric utilized in current U.S. presidential campaigns. "Those political candidates who have hidden behind trade as the primary reason for economic anxiety are hiding voters from the truth of the new global economy," writes Singham.

In a Christian Science Monitor op-ed, AS/COA's Susan Segal and the Center for Global Development's Nancy Birdsall discuss how the pending U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement could lower incidents of human rights abuses in Colombia.

In an op-ed for El Diario, Christopher Sabatini argues that congressional delay of a vote on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement could have negative political and economic effects on the entire hemisphere and also threatens security and free trade in Colombia. (en español)

The U.S. House of Representatives stalled the bilateral free-trade deal with Colombia, approving a rule change that waives a requirement to consider the agreement within 90 days. The future of the pact remains uncertain. 

In an exclusive AS/COA interview, Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos discusses how ratification of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will create jobs and further strengthen economic growth and security.

The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) is a critical component in further establishing a secure and prosperous economic climate in Colombia. The Council of the Americas resource guide outlines COA activities as well as official remarks and links related to the trade pact.

Philippe Legrain, a journalism fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, writes that: "The Democratic rivals have bought into most of the myths that have been peddled about the agreement and have placed their opposition to NAFTA at the center of their campaigns. Here's some information that could help them update their stump speeches."