Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Discusses CAFTA

(National Association of Manufacturers)

Congress will hurt the U.S. economy and send a bad message to its allies if it rejects a free trade agreement with Colombia, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez says. The House on Thursday voted to delay a vote on the deal.

“We should not put politics in front of sending a message to an ally,” said Gutierrez, a guest on this week's “America's Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program. “If we don't approve this, our allies and friends will be very confused. And people who don't like us will be very happy.”

Gasoline prices are at record highs and the search for alternative energy sources is gaining urgency. America's Business will talk to Southern California Edison about the utility company's multi-million-dollar plan to light hundreds of businesses and homes using solar power.

American manufacturers are also using a foreign visa program to help meet a shortage of qualified workers. Texas Instruments will join Mike to discuss the hurdles the company faces when it uses the H1-B visa program.