FTA Colombia - USA

The Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the

United States which was implemented in May 2012
brought opportunities for both countries to generate
economic growth and job creation. This treaty also
strengthens relationships between these countries in
different fields.
From June 2012 to February 2013 there has seen a
market increase in the import and export processes
between these countries, thanks to the elimination of
tariffs on various products produced in Colombia and the
United States

Export to USA

Conditions of access

In the U.S., each product has different requirements that

can be regulated by different federal agencies. So, you
do not only need to know what are the general
requirements to be met, but also to know which
government agency work is needed to successfully
export their products to this country.

Department of Homeland Security, Customs and

Border Protection (http://www.cbp.gov/). On this page
you can find all the information about procedures and
general requirements for importation of goods and
services.

Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov). It is

the official business of the Government of the United
States. Contains extensive information concerning
websites, procedures, business documents, laws,
rules, trade barriers and other issues of interest to
export and / or import to and from the U.S.

FDA
Food
and
Drug
Administration.
(http://www.fda.gov/). This agency gives the
guidelines for admission of the following foods: fish
meat, buffalo, rabbit, deer, among others. Solid or
liquid food products that do not contain alcohol or
more than 2% content of meat components. Pet food
and bottled water. This agency is under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Health of the United
States.
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
(http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/home). This
agency that is under the Department of Agriculture
(USDA) controls: all products containing more than
2% meat content, or baked more than 3% raw meat
content such as beef cattle, goats, poultry, eggs and
egg products, among others.

Products that enter the United States duty-free

immediately are:
Flowers.
White sugar.
Dairy: Colombia will get a share of preferential access
for products from milk, most of which are concentrated
in cheeses.
Snuff.
Meat and vegetable sector.
Textiles, garments, designs and fashions.
Alternative energy: fuels derived from sources other
than oil.
Other sectors such as fishing, footwear, plastic,
porcelain and jewelry industries also benefit.
Regarding listed service sector: health and consulting,
software and information technology, printing industry,
business process outsourcing and medical tourism.

Entry requirements
Customs Service of the United States (U.S. Customs
Service) is the body responsible for administering and
enforcing import laws and regulations stipulated in the
Tariff Act of 1930.
This entity is also responsible, as a federal agency to
enforce the regulations of other agencies at the ports of
entry along the land and maritime borders of the United
States.
All imports into the United
States require the following
documents:

 Manifesto of entry or special permit application and for

immediate delivery or other form required by the district
director.
Proof of right of entry.
Commercial invoice or pro-forma invoice, when the
former can not be submitted.
Packing list (if applicable).
Other documents necessary to determine merchandise
admissibility.

Merchandise must be released from customs against the

input document. For this, you must submit an entry
summary for consumption and also should deposit the
fees calculated at the port of entry within ten working
days, counted from the date on which the goods enter
and be released.
The commercial invoice must be in English or with its
proper translation and must bear the following
information:
Port of entry to which the merchandise is destined.
Date, place and names of the buyer and the seller, if
the merchandise is for sale consignment or results from
a contract of sale.

 Detailed description of the goods, including name,

quality, brand, etc.
Quantity in weight and measures.
Purchase price of each item in the currency of sale, if
sold, or the value of each item in the currency
normally used in shipping operations in consignment.

Requirements for textiles export

All textile products exported to the United States must

comply with certain labeling requirements, printing and
content. This information is contained in the Textile
Fiber Products Identification Act, which is available at
the following link:
(http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/textile/textlact.htm).
In addition, information on the restriction of textiles and
clothing is available at the website of the Office of
Textile
and
Apparel
OTEXA
(http://www.otexa.ita.doc.gov/). The employer may also
consult the website of the Consumer Protection
Bureau or Office of Consumer Protection in Spanish.

Similarly, exports of leather goods are subject to control

by the U.S. Department of Agriculture who regulates and
inspects imported animal products and exercises control
over those considered exotic animals or endangered
species (CITES).

Requirements for food export

Export Requirements for food, beverages, medicines
and cosmetics: the specifications for the entry of
these products to the U.S. market are contained in
the Federal Food and Drug Administration FDA
(http://www.fda.gov/).
Food products are required to have specific health
certificates for each product. The controls on the
entry of these products are held by the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service Animal (Animal and
Plant Health Service-APHIS), the Inspection Service
and Food Safety (Food Safety and Inspection
Service, FSIS).

The Center for Security Food and Applied Nutrition

(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and
Drug Administration-FDA) and Enforcement Division of
the Food and Drug Administration (Division of
Enforcement, Import Branch-FDA).
These products will be exported using any of the FTA
signed with Colombia. For this case we need that you
establish the requirements of:
Tariff heading
Liquidation
Costs of the export process.

References:

Embassy Colombia Washington, DC. (2012). U.S.Colombia free trade agreement. Consultado el 15 de
junio de 2013, en http://www.colombiaemb.org/FTA

International trade administration. (s.f). Export trading

company act. Consultado el 15 de junio de 2013, en
http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/etca/index.asp

Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo. (2013).

Acuerdo de promocin comercial entre la repblica
de Colombia y Estados Unidos de Amrica.
Consultado el 15 de junio de 2013, en
https://www.mincomercio.gov.co/tlc/publicaciones.php
?id=14853

Proexport Colombia. (2012). Gua comercial a

Estados Unidos. Consultado el 15 de junio de 2013,
en
http://www.proexport.com.co/sites/default/files/Guia_
Comercial_Estados_Unidos_2012.pdf