Rapporteur about the theme COLOMBIA AND FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
RAPPORTEUR: Adolfo Jose Perez
PROGRAM: Marketing and International Business
SUBJECT: International Relations and Agreements
TEACHING: James Paul Linero COLOMBIA AND FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

First of all it is necessary to know that a free trade agreement; a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a regional or bilateral trade agreement to expand the market of goods and services between countries. Basically, is the elimination or substantial reduction of tariffs on goods between the parties, and agreements on services. This agreement is governed by the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or by mutual agreement between the countries.

The main objectives of an (FTA) Free Trade Agreement are: * Remove barriers that affect or impair trade. * Promote conditions of fair competition. * Increase investment opportunities. * Provide adequate protection to intellectual property rights. * Establish effective processes for stimulating domestic production. * Encourage cooperation between friends. * Offering a solution to disputes.

The free trade agreements are important because they are an effective means to ensure access of products to foreign markets, in an easier and without barriers. They also allow increasing the marketing of national products, to generate more employment, to modernize the productive, improve the welfare of the people and promote the creation of new firms by domestic and foreign investors. But trade also serves to lower prices paid by consumers for goods that are not produced in the country.

Advantages of a (FTA) for Colombia

* Access to larger markets, fundamental for small economies * Access to higher quality products and lower prices * Contact with technological and scientific * Best pay and job quality * It opens doors to new