WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Hollywood's top lobbyist called Monday for Congress to pass a Colombia free trade agreement that has been held up by Democrats, calling trade the "lifeblood" of the movie business.

Motion Picture Association of America head Dan Glickman, a former Democratic congressman and Agriculture secretary in the Clinton administration, told a National Press Club audience that 60 percent of Hollywood's box office and home video receipts come from overseas.

"There is a limit to what U.S. consumers can buy," Glickman said.

"I worry that the process to approve trade agreements has become entirely too political in this country," he said.

"The alternative, in my judgment, is slower economic growth and giving up the ball to other countries that are more than happy to supplant us politically and economically as well, and I think that's a big mistake for us if America wants to engage the world in the future."

The Bush administration has insisted that the Colombia deal would be good for the U.S. economy, but Democrats have cited the continued violence against organized labor in Colombia, among other issues. Bush sent the agreement to Capitol Hill this month, but the Democrat-led House eliminated a rule forcing a vote on the deal within 60 legislative days. That probably kills consideration of the Colombia agreement this year, leaving it for the next administration.

On another international issue, Glickman was asked about any affect of the upcoming Beijing Olympics on the huge intellectual piracy problem in China. Nine out of 10 DVDs sold in China are pirated, Glickman said.

"I'm obviously hopeful from the IP perspective you'll probably see China, when the Olympics occur, in which the streets will probably be freer and more clear from pirated material," he said. "The question is whether it has any sustaining value to it or not."

He said he hoped the U.S. government would continue to use the Olympics to press the Chinese on intellectual property enforcement as well as other issues like Tibet, Darfur and human rights.

"The Olympics are not only a sporting event, they are that, but they're just as much a major international political event," Glickman said.

On the domestic front Glickman predicted a strong summer box office despite the shaky economy and promised continued innovations at movie theaters such as more conversions to digital technology allowing movies in 3-D.

The best way to fight domestic piracy, he said, was for studios to offer more options for in-home viewing, something he promised the industry would continue to push on.

Comments from Examiner Readers

4:13 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "MPAA boss urges approval of free trade pact with Colombia"

Examiner Reader said:
A problem in Colombia is pirated movies. But that is because the people have very little disposible income. Over 55% live below the poverty level and many others just exist. The country has one of the largest discrepencies in the world between rich and poor. The FTA is heavy with intellictual property rights, so the short term is good for the movie interest. But the better long term solution is to work other ways first to a better market for American goods. Without further changes in Colombia the FTA will do the opposite at this time.

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