McCain Calls for Colombia Free Trade
Posted on: Wednesday, 2 July 2008, 15:00 CDT
Presumptive Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain is calling for approval of a free trade deal with Colombia, citing progress on human rights.
Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., on a trip to the South American nation, said in the resort city of Cartagena Tuesday night a free trade agreement reached in 2006 between Colombia and the Bush administration should be ratified by Congress, The New York Times said.
I hope that we could move forward with a free trade agreement between our two countries, McCain told a news conference with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at his side.
Asked if the country's lax human rights record cited by congressional opponents of the deal is a factor, McCain said, I believe that progress is being made and I believe that more progress needs to be made, the Times reported.
Most Democrats and U.S. unions oppose the Colombia free trade agreement, saying Colombian trade unionists have been consistently targeted and killed by paramilitary government supporters. They also say it will cost U.S. jobs.
Source: United Press International
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