Andean Region

The Andean Trade Preferences Act, adopted in 1991, provides duty-free access to U.S. markets for some 5,600 products from the four eligible countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The Trade Act of 2002 renewed the ATPA program and extended new benefits to 700 additional products under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. The ATPDEA requires that each country must meet all the ATPA intellectual property rights criteria as well as the ATPDEA’s explicit TRIPS-or-greater criteria and willingness to participate in FTAA negotiations in order to be designated an ATPDEA eligible country.

The December 2006 Trade Bill granted a six-month extension for these four countries, and Congress later agreed to extend the ATPA program until February 29, 2008, followed by another extension through December 30, 2008. On October 16, 2008, President Bush signed legislation extending ATPA benefits by waiving duties on imports from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in return for strengthened anti-drug cooperation; that law limited the extension for Ecuador and Bolivia to six months (through June 30, 2009), but allowed an additional six-month extension if the two countries cooperate with U.S. anti-drug efforts. However, effective December 15, 2008, the Administration suspended Bolivia's duty-free access to the U.S. market until that country improves its anti-drug cooperation with the U.S. Recently, Congress and the Obama Administration extended ATPA benefits to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (but not Bolivia) through December 31, 2010.

	ANDEAN REGION: ATPA & ATPDEA
	May 12, 2010	IIPA submitted comments to USTR on the IPR-related eligibility criteria of the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and the four countries participating in that trade program.
	March 6, 2009	IIPA submitted comments to USTR on the IPR-related eligibility criteria of the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and the four countries participating in that trade program.
	July 29, 2008	IIPA files commented to the USITC on the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and copyright-related developments in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.
	March 5, 2007	IIPA files commented with USTR on the four countries (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia) receiving trade benefits under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA).
	June 8, 2006	IIPA provided the USITC with comments on copyright law and enforcement in the four Andean countries (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia).
	June 8, 2005	IIPA submitted its views to the U.S. International Trade Commission on the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) and identified copyright problems in the four ATPA countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru).
	June 1, 2004	IIPA filed comments with the U.S. International Trade Commission on the copyright law and enforcement efforts of the four countries participating in the Andean Trade Preferences Program (ATPA).
	March 10, 2004	IIPA Andean FTA Request to Testify to USTR March 2004.
	May 21, 2003	IIPA responded to International Trade Commission's Request for Comments on the Andean Trade Preferences Act: Effect on the U.S. Economy and on Andean Drug Crop Eradication, 68 Fed. Reg. 14697 (March 26, 2003)
	March 26, 2003	IIPA filed comments to USTR on the eligibility criteria of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru under Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act beneficiary countries, 68 Fed. Reg. 8791 (February 25, 2003).
	September 16, 2002	IIPA responded to request for public comment regarding the designation of eligible countries as Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act beneficiary countries, 67 Fed. Reg. 53379 (August 15, 2002).
	July 1, 2000	IIPA responded to International Trade Commission's request for comments on the Andean Trade Preference Act: Effect on the U.S. Economy and on Andean Drug Crop Eradication, Investigation No. 332-352, 67 Fed. Reg. 40337 (June 12, 2002).
	July 1, 2000

	September 11, 2000	IIPA filed comments on the report on the Andean Trade Preference Act, 65 Fed. Reg. 48041 (August 4, 2000).
	October 17, 1997	IIPA filed comments on the report on the Andean Trade Preference Act, 62 Fed. Reg. 46792 (September 4, 1997).