The United States and Colombia have agreed to grant zero tariffs to each other's imports of textiles and cotton, Colombian officials said on Thursday.

They said the move was a step forward in striking an overall free trade deal between the two countries, as officials from both sides are currently holding negotiations on the issue in Washington.

Officials from Colombia's agriculture ministry said the agreement would be a "two-way" opening up and provide new markets and opportunities of sustained development for Colombia's farming and stock raising.

Ecuador and Peru are also negotiating with the United States on bilateral free trade agreements.

Source: Xinhua