Free trade agreement negotiations between the United States and Colombia reached and impasse this week, prompting fears that Colombia may lose its trade benefits, set to expire this year. Both countries quickly agreed to restart the talks on February 14th, when it is hoped an agreement can be finalized. Negotiations stalled when the two sides were unable to reconcile their interests in agricultural export protections. Colombia wants protection from US exports for its corn, chicken, and rice markets, while still creating a trade package that is attractive to the US. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley noted that the agricultural terms of a free trade agreement with Colombia must meet or exceed those of NAFTA or CAFTA in order to ensure agreement between the two sides. Colombia currently enjoys duty-free access for several of its key exports to the US. These benefits are not permanent, however, and must be renewed by Congress on a yearly basis. The finalization of a free trade agreement between the two countries would eliminate the need for benefits renewal.

A gay, HIV-positive Colombian man living in Miami is fighting to stay in the US, fearing persecution at the hands of paramilitaries. Luis Fabriciano Rico came to the US on a tourist visa, then applied for political asylum about 10 months afterwards, originally citing political reasons in his application. He later changed his application, saying he could not return to Colombia because he is gay and HIV-positive. This claim was denied by Miami Judge Rex J. Ford. Rico hails from Barrancabermeja, a city controlled by the paramilitary group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). Paramilitary groups are known to commit violent acts against ?anyone they perceive to be gay,? according to Rico?s lawyer, Leon Fresco. ?They [the paramilitaries] throw rocks at your head. They kidnap and rape you.? Florida congresswomen Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D- Pembroke Pines) and Corrine Brown (D-Orlando) have asked the immigration appeals board to overturn Ford?s decision and allow the case to be reheard in another court. Rico believes that receiving asylum in the US is his last hope. ''I cannot go back to my country. The people will kill me because I am gay and HIV-positive. I am scared,'' Rico said from his home in Orlando. "Let me live in the United States to save my life. Please!''

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The office of Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), in conjunction with the U.S. Office on Colombia and Lutheran World Relief, will sponsor a congressional briefing on the impacts of the U.S. policy of aerial fumigation in Colombia. The briefing will take place Thursday, February 9th, from 3-4pm in room HC- 8 in the U.S. Capitol Building. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

About US Office on Colombia

The U.S. Office on Colombia is an independent non- profit organization, not affiliated with any political party, that seeks to educate U.S. policymakers, the media and the U.S. public about the impact of U.S. policy on Colombia.