The USA Rice Federation has called on Congress to approve the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement calling it one of the best bilateral trade deals negotiated for U.S. rice.

The U.S.-Colombia FTA establishes an initial tariff rate quota of 79,000 MT, milled basis, for U.S. rice, with Colombian imports of U.S. rice being duty free within the tariff rate quota.

U.S. rice exports to Colombia averaged just less than 3,100 MT from 2003 to 2007. An out-of-quota duty of 80 % is charged on imports above the tariff rate quota.

U.S. and Colombian negotiators completed the free trade agreement on Feb. 27, 2006. Changes were later made to the agreement’s labor and environment provisions, but implementation requires legislative approval in both the United States and Colombia.