Colombia

In recent years, the Colombian government has signed FTAs with several countries, including the USA (implemented in May 2012), China, Canada (signed in 2008, and took effect in August 2011), the EU. It is negotiating with Israel (first round of talks was held in January 2012), Korea (since 2009), is exploring the possibility of an FTA with Costa Rica, and has concluded a joint study on an FTA with the Japanese government. Labour and human rights organizations in Canada and the US have raised concerns and opposition to FTAs with Colombia due to the deadly repression and human rights violations against Colombian trade unionists, labour organisers, Indigenous Peoples and other communities there. Such concerns have delayed the ratification of these agreements. Within Colombia, a national coalition against free trade agreements, RECALCA, has warned that these agreements further deepen the privatization and corporate control over Colombian people’s lives and the country’s natural resources. Colombian farmers have opposed the deal because of concerns of increased unfair competition with US. transnational agribusiness and the devastation this will cause local producers. RECALCA has also warned that a proposed FTA with Korea could badly impact Colombia’s auto sector with resulting job losses.

last update: May 2012

Photo: Agencia Prensa Rural


El Norte | 11-Jun-2025
La ministra de Relaciones Exteriores realizará una visita oficial a Bruselas con el objetivo de impulsar la negociación del acuerdo de asociación y cooperación entre Colombia y la Unión Europea.
La Razón | 13-Mar-2025
La solicitud busca garantizar que los acuerdos comerciales no perjudiquen al sector arrocero colombiano ante la crisis de precios.
Las 2 Orillas | 13-Feb-2025
El libre comercio nos dejó a merced de importaciones que destruyeron agro e industria, empresarios quebrados y millones de trabajadores en precariedad y desempleo.
CIAR Global | 23-Jan-2025
Las compañías españolas del sector salud, Centauro Capital SLU y Natanor XXI propietarias del Grupo Keralty, han demandado a Colombia a través de arbitraje de inversiones a través del Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias relativas a Inversiones (CIADI).
Asuntos Legales | 16-Dec-2024
A raíz de la condena en contra del Estado colombiano y a favor de Telefónica, proferida por un Tribunal Ciadi el pasado mes de noviembre, se ha planteado por el gobierno nacional la posibilidad de denunciar el Convenio de Washington de 1965, por medio del cual se creó el Centro Internacional para el Arreglo de Diferencias en materia de Inversión.
Prensa Latina | 25-Nov-2024
Colombia’s President said that Colombia will try to renegotiate the Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and the United States, concerning arbitration prerogatives based on national law.