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Colombia

Index

Colombia Main Page
La Violencia Claims Thousands of Lives
Rise of Rebel Groups M-19, ELN, FARC, and UAC
Joint Antinarcotics Effort with the United States, Plan Colombia, Begins
President Uribe Makes Strides in the Face of Significant Domestic Challenges
Venezuelan President Chavez Achieves Some Success in Releasing FARC-held Hostages
Political Veteran Assumes the Presidency
FARC Halts Kidnapping and Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. Begins

FARC Halts Kidnapping and Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. Begins

In late February 2012, FARC announced an end to its long time practice of kidnapping civilians for financial gains. The announcement was made on FARC's website. FARC, the chief rebel group in Colombia, also said it would soon free the remaining ten prisoners of war. The ten security force members have been held in captivity for 14 years. Unknown was whether FARC, also known as Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, would release the kidnapped civilians they currently hold or whether the orders can be enforced among all the rebels in the group.

On May 15, 2012, the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) went into effect. Signed back on November 22, 2006, the agreement was made to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers for goods and services between Colombia and the United States. Both countries worked together on resolving issues such as sanitary barriers in agriculture, including safety inspection procedures on certain food items. The agreement granted duty-free treatment to farm products and a variety of foods. Colombia should benefit from the deal considerably with at least a ten percent increase to their exports, while creating new jobs and economic growth.

See also Encyclopedia: Colombia .
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Colombia
National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) (In Spanish only) www.dane.gov.co/ .