Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2007 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD Why Colombia's Drug Trade Is A Free-Trade Issue Free trade accords tend to conjure images of business executives jetting off to negotiate manufacturing-plant construction and import-export deals. That's far from the reality of the U.S.-Colombian accord, which President Bush has signed but a skeptical Congress has yet to ratify. President Alvaro Uribe's discussion topics in Washington last week, combined with a new lawsuit against Chiquita Brands International, underscore the problems Colombia still confronts as one of the world's most dangerous, albeit lucrative, business venues. These problems cannot be masked by the niceties of free-trade accords or the impressive results of Mr. Uribe's efforts to restore order and foment an economic boom. The drug-crop menace, which helped turn guerrilla and paramilitary groups into billion-dollar enterprises, appears to be getting worse rather than better. Congress wants to know why it should continue allocating billions to drug-war programs with questionable results. This intersects with commerce when American companies try to do business in Colombia, only to be confronted with threats and demands for "protection" payments. Chiquita made the mistake of paying Colombian paramilitary terrorists to protect its banana plantations from 1997 to 2004. The company now faces a $25 million fine and a lawsuit from 144 families who claim Chiquita's hired thugs killed their relatives. Chiquita got caught, but it was not alone. It's no secret that anyone with major business operations in Colombia's hinterland, including international oil firms, eventually must deal with kidnapping and extortion threats. That's a free-trade issue. Do Colombian businesses have to earmark large portions of their budgets for expensive measures to protect their facilities in this country? Of course not, which is why we feel Colombia has yet to offer U.S. businesses the level playing field that is required of any free-trade accord. Mr. Uribe must understand that much work remains to be done before Colombia wins our full confidence. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom