| President Bush Friday urged the U.S. Congress | | | | |
| to approve a set of free trade accords with | | | | Lawmakers in U.S. Congress have voiced |
| Colombia, Panama and Peru. VOA's Brian Wagner | | | | support for the agreements with Panama and |
| reports that Mr. Bush said the trade deals | | | | Peru, but the future of the Colombian plan is |
| will benefit U.S. business and boost | | | | unclear. Some legislators have criticized the |
| democracy in the region. | | | | Colombian government for failing to prevent |
| | | | or investigate attacks on union leaders. They |
| President Bush made the speech in Miami, | | | | say Colombia must do more before a trade deal |
| Florida noting it is crucial for U.S. trade | | | | is approved. |
| with Latin America and other parts of the | | | | |
| world. He said that $72 billion in goods and | | | | President Bush said Colombia's President |
| products passed through Miami's ports last | | | | Alvaro Uribe has made great strides in his |
| year. | | | | nation, while he recognized that some |
| | | | concerns remain. But he stressed that |
| The president said the strength of | | | | increasing ties with Colombia was the best |
| international trade has helped push the | | | | way to bring about further improvements. |
| area's economic growth and employment levels | | | | |
| above national averages. "I think the case | | | | "Colombia's record is not perfect, but the |
| for trade is unmistakable in Miami, and we | | | | country is clearly headed in the right |
| need to make that case all over the country. | | | | direction and is asking for our help," he |
| I've come to a place that has benefited from | | | | said. |
| trade so others around the country can | | | | |
| understand it can happen in their areas as | | | | The president also said the deal with |
| well," he said. | | | | Colombia was crucial to America's strategic |
| | | | interests in the region, especially in the |
| Mr. Bush said a centerpiece of his economic | | | | fight against drug traffickers and terrorist |
| policy has been pursuing free trade deals | | | | groups. |
| with other nations, and while in office, he | | | | |
| has expanded the number of such deals from | | | | In recent months, the Bush administration has |
| three to 14. | | | | sought to strengthen ties with Latin American |
| | | | allies, amid sharp criticism from Venezuela's |
| Now he is again pressing Congress to approve | | | | leftist President Hugo Chavez and some other |
| pending trade agreements with Colombia, | | | | regional leaders. |
| Panama and Peru. He said U.S. exporters will | | | | |
| benefit the most under the deals, because | | | | The president said the three pending trade |
| they would lower trade duties on many | | | | deals could help further those efforts. "This |
| American products sent to the Latin American | | | | agreements will counter their false populism |
| nations. | | | | promoted by some nations in the hemisphere. |
| | | | These agreements will strengthen the forces |
| "Our free trade agreements would knock down | | | | of freedom and democracy throughout the |
| many of these barriers and level the playing | | | | Americas," he said. |
| field for our businesses and farmers and | | | | |
| workers. Together these agreements would | | | | After the speech, President Bush departed |
| expand access to 75 million new customers | | | | Miami to spend the weekend on his ranch in |
| with a combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) | | | | Crawford, Texas. |
| of $245 billion," said. | | | | |