Bush vows to help Panama clinch free trade agreement

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — President George W. Bush said Tuesday he would do his best to get Congress to approve a pending free trade agreement with Panama, after meeting with its President Martin Torrijos in the White House.

"The Panamanian free trade vote is a priority of this government. It should be a priority of the United States Congress," Bush told reporters after the meeting.

Bush said he and his administration would "do everything in our capacity to move the trade bills" not only with Panama, but with Colombia and South Korea as well.

The House of Representatives last month delayed a vote on the Colombian trade pact in a snub to the White House. Lawmakers link the agreement to Colombia's progress in human rights. The Panama and South Korean pacts are...