Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe officially signed a controversial free trade agreement just one day ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum on Nov. 21, Canwest News Service reported. Mr. Harper called the agreement "unprecedented" and said it will benefit all Canadians in giving exporters, service providers and investors access to a growing Colombian market. Colombia has suffered from ongoing internal conflict and is widely condemned for human rights violations, including against union activists.