Lawmakers seek stronger U.S. ties with strategic drug-fighting, trade partner

April 1, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida, Texas and other states would have a stronger commerce and drug-fighting partner under trade legislation filed today by two U.S. senators and four key members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Florida Democrat Robert Wexler.

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, proposed adding Paraguay to an existing trade preference program the U.S. has with three South American neighbors of Paraguay: Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.  Bolivia is also in the trade promotion and drug eradication program, but currently is suspended.

More specifically, the legislation is aimed at opening new avenues of commerce and cooperation with Paraguay in an effort to bring greater stability to the region that has been historically troubled by drug trafficking and U.S. concerns over terrorist activity.  As a partner in the program, Paraguay would be required to cooperate with the U.S. on anti-drug trafficking and national security issues.

Florida especially stands to benefit through the bolstered relationship, as the state and its deep-water ports serve as the main shipping points for goods coming from or going to Latin America.

The legislation comes at a time when President Barack Obama is preparing to attend the three-day Summit of the Americas in Trinidad starting on April 17.  Nearly three dozen democratically elected leaders from throughout the Americas will be meeting to grapple with various issues ranging from trade to combating illegal drugs to promoting democracy.  The new U.S. administration has pledged to repair frayed ties within the Hemisphere.

“Adding Paraguay to this trade partnership is not only in my state’s best economic interest, but it’s also in our country’s best interest to promote and support neighboring democracies and their economic prosperity,” said Bill Nelson, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees U.S. trade policy.

Cornyn, also a member of the finance panel, said, “Paraguay, an important ally to the United States, is making strides to grow its economy, and the U.S.-Paraguay Partnership Act is an important step in supporting its continued development. Additionally, the government of Paraguay is a strong partner in combating narcotrafficking and terrorist financing in the Americas. Our bi-national eradication strategy is working, and this bill is about fighting narco-terrorism from the ground up.  I hope all of our Senate colleagues will join us in supporting this legislation.”

U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel ( D-NY ), Dan Burton ( R-IN ), Howard Berman ( D-CA ) and Robert Wexler ( D-FL ) filed the House companion version of the Nelson-Cornyn U.S.-Paraguay Partnership Act.

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