Levin Says Colombia Labor Rights 'Benchmarks' Must Be Enforceable

Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), chairman of the House Ways and Means trade subcommittee, signaled this week that benchmarks that will be developed for Colombia in consultation with the Obama administration to "ensure workers' safety and the growth of their rights" must be incorporated as enforceable commitments under the terms of a bilateral free trade agreement. In a March 11 speech to the Washington International Trade Association, Levin signaled that the benchmarks would address the level of violence in Colombia, the...