Abstract

FERNANDEZ DUSSO, Juan José. Trade and Labor: Subjective Utilities and Human Rights in Trade Agreement Negotiations - The Cases of Colombia and Peru. Desafíos [online]. 2018, vol.30, n.1, pp.47-89. ISSN 0124-4035.  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/desafios/a.5814.

In 2004 the Peruvian and Colombian governments began, alongside Ecuador, negotiating a trade agreement with the government of the United States of America. After Ecuador's withdrawal from the process, Peru and Colombia separated their negotiations with the United States. Peru reached an agreement with the United States that was ratified in 2006 and 2007, respectively. However, the approval of the accord with Colombia by the United States' Congress was significantly delayed. What were the forces behind this delay? This article emphasizes a strong transnational opposition to the United States-Colombia agreement that, in turn, conditioned its approval on the Colombian government's recognition and protection of workers' rights. The divergence between the Peruvian and the Colombian case is explained by the Colombian government's response to such claims: one that reveals an ineffective strategy shaped by President Uribe's perceived incompatibility between those transnational demands and his national security policy.

Keywords : Colombia; Peru; labor rights; USA; human rights; unions; free trade agreements.

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