USTR Kirk hopes for US trade deal approval in Sept

WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Tuesday he was optimistic that Congress would pass free trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama shortly after they return in September from a month-long congressional recess.

Kirk, in a speech to the Bretton Woods Committee, said he believed President Barack Obama's administration had worked out a deal with congressional leaders to ensure passage of the three trade pacts and Trade Adjustment Assistance, a retraining program for U.S. workers displaced by trade.

Kirk also said chances of a successful conclusion of the long-running Doha round of world trade talks was "looking less and less likely," but added the United States would work with other WTO members to chart a path forward for the talks.

(Reporting by Doug Palmer; editing by Will Dunham)