MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US regional offensive in support of free trade agreements

United States Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte warned Wednesday that rejection by the Democrat controlled Congress of free trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Panama would mean a serious blow for Washington's interests in the region.

"Congress must also take into account the message they will be sending if these agreements are not approved", said Negroponte during the annual Washington Conference on the Americas Council held at the State Department. "Strategically, I believe it would a great step for United States and our interests in Latinamerica", said Negroponte who next week is scheduled to travel to Peru, Colombia and Panama, the three countries that have free trade agreements pending approval, and Ecuador. Accompanying the Deputy Secretary will be Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas A. Shannon. Negroponte who has held the Under Secretary post since last January, said rejection of free trade agreements with those three countries would represent "a victory for those people who have a different point of view regarding development in the region". "We're not only talking of the economic consequences of having free trade agreements with those three countries, but the strategic importance of such a move", said Negroponte in direct reference to the Venezuelan sponsored Alternative Bolivarian for the Americas, ALBA, which held a regional summit over the weekend in Barquisimeto. The US Congress under Democrat control is calling on the three countries for guarantees regarding labor and environmental issues before giving its approval. According to the official State Department release, Negroponte will be traveling to the four countries May 7/12 to discuss pending trade agreements, energy issues and regional cooperation. "Following on President Bush's March 2007 visit to the region, Deputy Secretary Negroponte will also highlight President Bush's commitment to advance the cause of social justice in the Western Hemisphere by building governments that are fair, effective, and that meet the basic needs of their citizens". In related news President Bush urged a wary US Congress on Wednesday to give Colombian President Alvaro Uribe a fair hearing and approve a free-trade agreement with his scandal-tainted government. Uribe's morning meeting with Bush launched a three-day lobbying trip in Washington. His goal is to revive an important bilateral free-trade deal and maintain a strong military aid package from the United States. After being signed by the Bush administration in November, the trade deal is now stalled in Congress due to Democratic concerns over Colombia's human rights record and the government's ties to right-wing paramilitary groups. Bush told Congress to consider the implications of the deal with Colombia and two pending pacts with Peru and Panama. "It is very important for this nation to stand with democracies that protect human rights and human dignity, democracies based upon the rule of law," Bush said. "So the free-trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Panama -- these agreements are more than just trade votes." Many in Congress oppose not only the trade deal -- out of concern for potential U.S. job losses and Colombia's poor record of protecting union leaders -- but also the military focus of Plan Colombia, the anti-narcotics and counterinsurgent program that has cost American taxpayers more than 5 billion US dollars since 2000.