The Panama agreement could bring others along with it, but many unions aren't on board with the Colombia, Korea and Panama deals that were signed by the George W. Bush administration
Administration officials said Tuesday that a free trade agreement with Panama is ready for congressional consideration and that they hoped it will be part of a larger trade agenda that also includes completion of long-pending free trade treaties with South Korea and Colombia.
Republicans have said that all three deals, which were signed by the George W. Bush administration, must be sent to Congress before they will act on any one of them.
Colombia has been the most difficult of the three because of its history of suppressing labor rights, but earlier this month the U.S. and Colombian governments agreed on an action plan related to labor rights.
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