BOGOTA, May 19 (UPI) -- Colombian president Alvaro Uribe Wednesday defended the ongoing negotiations between Andean nations and the United States.
Thousands of students protested this week concerning what many believe might be an onslaught of American imported goods that would cost Colombians thousands of jobs and destroy the local economy.
"Although many citizens are conscious of the need for these agreements to build robust economies and social justice ... some are raising incendiary claims against the negotiations, and to their discredit, are aspiring to obtain electoral benefits," Uribe said in a statement.
According to Uribe, the negotiations are necessary because the Andean countries are looking for permanent integration into trade with the United States.
Along with Ecuador and Peru, Colombian trade delegates are seeking to create a free-trade agreement with the United States similar to one Chile signed with Washington last year.
