Colombian Attorney Red Flags FTA

Bogota, Oct 25, 2005 (Prensa Latina)

Attorney General Edgardo Maya admonished the government Tuesday that an ill-fated signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US would result in negative effects for Colombia.

Maya addressed a letter to the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe today, where he highlighted to the government topics such as intellectual property, agriculture, access to market and textile mills that are still murky in the FTA.

"If those issues are not properly analyzed they could cause negative effects for the country," asseverated the Attorney while expressing his concern on the scarce advances achieved at the 12th Round of Negotiations last September, in Cartagena.

Maya warned, particularly regarding intellectual property, of the need to not establish more barriers for the supply of generic medicines and for reasonable prices to guarantee access to most Colombians.

Likewise, he proposed not to register plants and animals as it puts biodiversity in jeopardy.

Regarding agriculture, the Attorney suggested rejection of total liberation of the national market while the US excludes some products such as sugar, because it would put at risk a competitive and potentially exporting industry.