President Obama's free trade agreement with Columbia will hurt the US.

Introduction: It has long been known that opening up trade to other societies will expand and benefit one-- from centuries ago, the Europeans discovered different foods, survival mechanisms, and even a whole new continent to claim their own through exploration and opening the door of oppurtunity to trade. It is in this country, now independently called America, that new trade is being opened up again. The free trade agreement with Columbia will certainly not harm the United States-- in fact, multiple benefits will be shown. The burden of the proof in this debate lies on the pro to not only show that the United States will not be beneitted by this agreement, but also to show that it will actually and concretely harm the US. The con, however, must only prove that there is no harm to only the US, which will be proven through a serious of evidence and historical analysis. Arguments: Contention 1: Direct microeconomic gain It is common sense that international trade, especially with countries with necessary raw goods to export and a need for manufactured products to import, is incredibly beneficial to a countries economic sphere. Experts, too, predict that this deal could boost the United States' GDP, in huge need of stimulation, by $2.5 billion dollars per year. A much needed boost, trade is clearly the answer. Regardless of any economic statistics, all things considered, the United States is gaining, and clearly not being harmed, by a load of money into it's economy. However, trade with Columbia specifically will be incredibly beneficial to the United States. Columbian goods, especially much needed raw materials such as meat, mining, and others have had a very protective tariff on them for quite some time. However, with the removal of this tariff, international trade is expected to increase by 15%, with Columbia due to this becoming a much larger role in the United States' trade situation then before, due to the restrictive nature of the trade. Just between the two, U.S. profit would increase by $1.6 billion dollars-- and this is only the direct net gain from the actual trade. ï¿½Not only will this open up the door to an even further growth internationally, but will create more jobs in the United States-- much needed for both the government and citizens, by boosting the need for positions such as trade analysts, foreign investors, and trade financers in the U.S. by 33%. Clearly a direct benefit solely from the trade with Columbia, this new agreement will help the United States with massive amounts of economic growth, stimulus, and net gain, bringing me to my next point. Contention 2: Indirect effects within the U.S. caused by the opening of Columbian trade As stated in contention 1, another hugely positive impact to elaborate on is the creation of jobs , research, and stimulus (not exclusively economic) that will indubitably happen in the united states as a result of opening up trade with Columbia. Statistics show that the jobs created with the opening of trade to one country, let alone one so significant in goods as Columbia, would increase by 2 million in just 5 years. A huge benefit to employers in the most significant, fastest growing, and highest benefitting from this such as the rice industry will add to the amount of free jobs and circulating currency withing the US. Aditional monetary benefit can be found in the fact that we have lost more than $3.4 billion dollars in tariffs with Columbia alone. Putting flowing currency and stimulating jobs back into the US's system would be a clear benefit from the opening in the trade agreement. Conclusion: Though not the only, but the most important and significant benefit to the united states by opening up trade and eleminating tariffs with Columbia would not only outweigh any potential drawbacks to the united states (which I will directly refute in the next round), but benefit the united states, especially considering its current economic status, economically and monetariy through direct gain as well as the stimulation of additional benefits in the united states. Thank you. Sources:ï¿½ http://www.businessweek.com...; Steven Chase, Stephen Harper defends free-trade deal with Colombia The Globe and Mail August 2011 ï¿½http://www.ustr.gov...; Hidalgo, Juan C. and Griswold, D., Trade Agreement Would Promote U.S. Exports and Colombian Civil Society, Free Trade Bulletin No. 44, 15 February 2011ï¿½ El Congreso de Colombia, Proyecto de Ley no. 201 de 2012 ï¿½ Tarter, Steve, and McDonald, Karen, Schock, Cat CEO praise trade pact with Colombia, The Journal Star, 6 April 2011. Rusciano, Alex, Caterpillar Applauds Pending US - Colombia Free Trade Agreement, WCBU Radio News, 6 April 2011 Luxner, Larry, Colombia Reaches Crossroads With Free Trade Agreement, The Washington Diplomat, 27 July 2011