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The Impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act Twelfth ... - USITC

The Impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act Twelfth ... - USITC

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production capacity and hire subcontractors to develop an integrated export supply chain thatensures speed to market for foreign buyers. 201Two large manufacturers dominate Bolivia’s textile and apparel exports: Ametex, whichaccounts for more than 90 percent <strong>of</strong> Bolivia’s textile and apparel exports 202 and exportsalmost 900,000 units <strong>of</strong> clothing to <strong>the</strong> United States every month under <strong>the</strong> ATPDEA, 203and Asea, which exports about 60,000 units <strong>of</strong> clothing per month. <strong>The</strong>se firms report noadverse effects from <strong>the</strong> elimination <strong>of</strong> quotas on January 1, 2005. In 2005, Ametex signeda new contract with Abercrombie and Fitch and increased its exports to Polo Ralph Lauren;Asea completed a vertically integrated production facility in Santa Cruz and developed plansto begin supplying garments to JC Penney and K-Mart in 2006. 204 However, corporaterepresentatives from both firms have expressed concern about retaining <strong>the</strong>ir competitivenesswith less expensive products from China if <strong>the</strong> trade preferences under ATPDEA expirebefore an FTA is negotiated and implemented with <strong>the</strong> United States. 205ColombiaAccording to <strong>the</strong> U.S. Embassy in Colombia, ATPA “has provided significant economicbenefits to Colombia.” <strong>The</strong> Embassy reported that <strong>the</strong> original ATPA created an estimated123,000 jobs in Colombia, and ATPDEA is expected to create ano<strong>the</strong>r 150,000 new jobs byDecember 2006. However, <strong>the</strong> American Chamber <strong>of</strong> Commerce in Bogota reports that“member companies have lost orders as a result <strong>of</strong> cost uncertainty related to <strong>the</strong> expiration<strong>of</strong> ATPDEA benefits.” Concerns remain regarding whe<strong>the</strong>r a stopgap measure will beimplemented to bridge <strong>the</strong> gap between <strong>the</strong> expiration <strong>of</strong> ATPA at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 2006 and <strong>the</strong>entry into force <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> U.S.-Colombian trade promotion agreement. 206According to <strong>the</strong> Embassy, investor confidence, both foreign and domestic, improved in2005, because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strong Colombian economy, increased physical security, an improvedlegal framework, and higher prices <strong>of</strong> Colombia’s export commodities, including oil. 207Domestic investment in plant and equipment rose about 50 percent in 2005, 208 and FDIinflows increased 227 percent to $10.2 billion. 209 <strong>The</strong> manufacturing sector was <strong>the</strong> largestrecipient <strong>of</strong> FDI, accounting for 53 percent <strong>of</strong> FDI inflows in 2005, followed by mining with19 percent and <strong>the</strong> petroleum sector with 12 percent. Mergers and acquisitions reached arecord level in 2005 and included a $7.8 billion acquisition <strong>of</strong> a Colombian brewery and a201 Ibid.202 “Bolivia: ATPDEA Is a Great Opportunity for Textile Industry,” Feb. 3, 2003, found athttp://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/1981328, retrieved May 31, 2006.203U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> State telegram, “Textile and Apparel Firms: Competitive, But Only with ATPDEA<strong>Trade</strong> <strong>Preference</strong>s,” message reference No. 2781, prepared by U.S. Embassy, La Paz, Sept. 14, 2005.204 Ibid.205 Ibid.206 U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> State telegram, “Colombia ATPDEA-Related <strong>Act</strong>ivity 2005,” message referenceNo. 5571, prepared by U.S. Embassy, Bogota, June 21, 2006.207 Ibid.; and U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> State telegram, “Colombia’s Economy: Still Defying Gravity,” messagereference No. 1870, prepared by U.S. Embassy, Bogota, Mar. 1, 2006.208U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> State telegram, “Colombia’s Economy: Still Defying Gravity,” message referenceNo. 1870, prepared by U.S. Embassy, Bogota, Mar. 1, 2006.209Proexport Colombia, “Foreign Investment Report 2005,” Apr. 2006, found athttp://www.proexport.com.co/VBeContent/home.asp?language=EN&idcompany=22, retrieved July 13, 2006.3-22

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