Representative Ambassador Miriam Sapiro; Joe Perez Jones, vice president of Seaboard Marine, and Janet Avila, manger at Seaboard Marine.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz was one of several government officials on hand for the celebration of the initiated U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement at PortMiami on Friday, July 20.
The commissioner joined Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Miriam Sapiro, and members of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and PortMiami to commemorate both the trade agreement and Colombia’s Independence Day. Commissioner Diaz, Mayor Gimenez, and Ambassador Sapiro highlighted the benefits of the new agreement. According to the USTR, more than 80 percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products to Colombia will become duty free, with remaining tariffs phased out over 10 years. The move was done to increase U.S. exports and to support more American jobs and the country’s competitiveness overseas.
“Miami-Dade County stands to benefit from this free trade agreement with our port being a gateway to the Americas,” Diaz said. “This means more revenue for Miami- Dade and more jobs for our residents.” Commissioner Diaz currently is a member of the Federal Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade. For more information, contact his office at 305- 599-1200.
