Andrew J. Samet

Andrew J. Samet is a principal and co-founder of the Washington D.C. lobbying firm Sorini, Samet & Associates.

Working for Colombia

In September 2008, it was reported that Samet signed another $45,000 contract with the Colombian government, "to present Colombia's track record on labor issues to Congress, non-governmental organizations and labor unions."

In January 2008, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hired Samet on a three month contract worth $58,000 to assist win passage of the free trade agreement. Under the contract, Samet undertook to

"1) assist the government of Colombia in presenting information on labor issues with relevant U.S. stakeholders, including US Congress, the administration, labor advocacy groups, trade unions and the media";

"2) Provide advice and consultation on the implementation of the labor document produced by the consultant with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank, including advising Colombia on issues relating to ILO recommendations"

"3) To assist in the drafting documents, press releases and other documents related to labor issues at the request of the Colombian government"

"4) To develop a strategy for interaction between the Colombian government and the US labor Unions and provide advice for the implementation of this strategy"

"5) To participate as a member of the overall support team working with the government of Colombia on the strategy for the congressional consideration of the Trade Promotion Agreement".

Biographical profiles

A biographical note states that Samet "develops, implements, and manages the firm's consulting and lobbying practice on international trade negotiations and legislation" and provides "crisis management on international labor and social responsibility issues. He has worked for clients throughout Asia, Latin America and Africa -- and in various industrial sectors including apparel, footwear, and agriculture."

Samet has "served as a consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank and the ministers responsible for trade and labor from the countries of Central America, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia on the labor issues that have been central to congressional consideration of U.S. free trade agreements."

"Prior to co-founding Sorini, Samet & Associates, Mr. Samet served as Deputy Under Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration, where he was responsible for all international activities of the Department of Labor, and was a member of the senior sub-cabinet deputies group of the White House National Economic Council for international policy decisions. He also represented the United States on the Governing Body of the International Labor Organization. Among his accomplishments within the organization was his negotiation of the 1999 ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. In addition, he was responsible for the implementation of the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, the labor agreement that accompanied NAFTA. He also represented the Department of Labor at meetings of the OECD and the WTO, including the Singapore and Seattle ministerial meetings," it states.

"Mr. Samet joined the Clinton administration in 1993 after serving on the staff of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York for six years, primarily as Legislative Director. In that capacity, he worked on the 1988 and 1990 Trade Acts and the 1991 fast track legislation, as well as clean air and surface transportation bills. Mr. Samet has also served as a professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. Before joining the staff of Sen. Moynihan, Mr. Samet practiced international trade law. He is on the faculty of George Washington University Law School, where he teaches on international labor standards and the global economy," it states.

An earlier biographical note described Samet as being "Of Counsel to the law firm of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., resident in its Washington, D.C. office. He is a former Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, has two decades of experience in law practice, government policy development, international negotiations and program implementation related to international trade, global labor and corporate social responsibility issues. He served on the staff of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York from 1987-1993, most of that time as the Senator's legislative director."

Affiliations

• Director, US Campaign for Burma

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Colombia
• U.S. - Colombia Free Trade Agreement

External articles

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