| The Andean Trade
Preference Act (ATPA), is a program in which the
United States grants duty-free entry of merchandise
to
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The ATPA was
enacted into law on 4 December 1991. The objective of the ATPA is to combat drug production and trafficking by
offering trade benefits to help countries diversify
and strengthen legitimate industries.
Under the 2002 Trade Act, the ATPA, which was
scheduled to expire on 4 December 2001, was expanded
through the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug
Eradication Act (ATPDEA) which was signed into law
on 6 August 2002 and became Public Law 107-210.
As per Section 208 of the legislation, the
preferences are to be in effect until 31 December
2006. On 20 December 2006, the ATPA was extended for six months for all four Andean Countries until 30 June 2007. The U.S. Congress extended the ATPA again for an additional eight months on February 2007. On 29 February 2008, the "Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008" renewed the ATPA through 31 December 2008. On 16 October 2008 the U.S. President signed the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension (H.R. 7222) ensuring that preferential treatment will be in effect until December 31, 2009. The U.S. President signed a proclamation suspending the designation of Bolivia as a beneficiary country under the ATPA and ATPDEA on 25 November 2008.
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