Trading Partner Portal: Colombia

Key Country Contacts

Colombia is an emerging economy that is providing California with a quickly expanding export market and opportunity for future collaboration.

In 2011, the United States exported over $14.3 billion worth of goods to Colombia, with total trade amounting to over $37.4 billion. This is a 35 percent increase since 2010.

Since 2006, exports to Colombia have more than doubled. In 2011, Californian exports to Colombia totaled just over $534 million.

Colombia remained California’s 34th largest export market. This growth is indicative of the potential of California-Colombia trade. U.S. Department of Commerce

California’s strongest to-Colombia exporting sector is computers and electronic products. With exports in this sector totaling over $215 million, computers and electronic products make up 40.4 percent of total Californian exports to Colombia. This is a 48 % increase over exports from 2010.
U.S. Department of Commerce

In 2011, California export to Colombia also included Chemicals, Misc. Manufactured commodities and Machinery.  Their percentages of total the California - Colombia export market were 12, 9.4 and 9.3 respectively.  
U.S. Department of Commerce

 U.S. - Colombia Free Trade Agreement

In November 2006, the United States and Colombia signed a Free Trade Agreement (also referred to as a Trade Promotion Agreement). Colombia’s Congress approved the agreement in 2007.

On October 12, 2011, the US Congress passed the US - Colombia Free Trade Agreement by a vote of 262 - 167 in the House and 66 - 33 in the Senate.

CalChamber Praises Passage of Three Free Trade Agreements 
CalChamber, October 12, 2011    

Per the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement offers tremendous opportunities for California's exporters. When the Agreement enters into force, 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial exports to Colombia, including nearly all information technology products; mining, agriculture, and construction equipment; medical and scientific equipment; auto parts; paper products; and chemicals, will be duty-free immediately. The remaining tariffs phase out over 10 years.

U.S. farmers and ranchers will also become much more competitive, benefiting from immediate duty-free treatment of 77 percent of current U.S. agriculture exports. Key U.S. agriculture exports such as cotton, wheat, soybeans, high-quality beef, apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and almonds will be duty-free upon entry into force of the Agreement. Colombia will phase out all other agricultural tariffs within 19 years.

(April 20, 2010) Colombian Vice Consul Maria Melo and CalChamber Vice President, Government Relations Marc Burgat testify on behalf of CalChamber against AJR 27, a California Resolution, which would impair trade between the U.S and Colombia

CalChamber Position

The California Chamber of Commerce, in keeping with long-standing policy, enthusiastically supports free trade worldwide, expansion of international trade and investment, fair and equitable market access for California products abroad and elimination of disincentives that impede the international competitiveness of California business. New multilateral, sectoral and regional trade agreements ensure that the United States may continue to gain access to world markets, resulting in an improved economy and additional employment of Americans.

Reasons for Position

• The Free Trade Agreement is a critical element of the U.S. strategy to liberalize trade through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives.
• Bilateral and regional agreements complement the possible goal of creating a Free Trade Area of the Americas.
• The FTA will increase momentum toward lowering trade barriers and set a positive example for other small economies in the Western Hemisphere.

Recent Articles: Profiles in Trade