McCain confirms trip to Colombia, Mexico next week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain will travel to Colombia and Mexico next week to highlight his support of free trade with both countries, his campaign confirmed on Thursday.

McCain, an Arizona senator who has wrapped up his party's White House nomination, will hold events in Cartagena, Colombia, on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by events in Mexico City on Thursday.

"He'll be meeting with public officials and discussing critical issues to the relationship to the United States of both of those countries," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said.

McCain has tussled with Democratic opponent Barack Obama over free trade in the campaign for the November election.

Obama has called for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which groups the United States, Mexico and Canada, to be renegotiated to improve environmental and labor provisions. He threatened to pull out of the pact if necessary.

The Illinois senator also opposed a U.S. free trade deal with Colombia, which McCain supports -- a point he aims to emphasize during his trip abroad.

"Senator McCain wants to demonstrate that if elected president, that two key trading partners can be assured that ... they will have a respectful but experienced and focused leader in the White House," Bounds said.

"It's important for our trading partners to know that we're serious about respectful trade agreements focused on the mutual benefit to both countries."

McCain traveled to Canada last week to highlight his support of NAFTA. He said the trip was not a political one, but he criticized Obama without mentioning him by name, accusing those who wanted to abrogate NAFTA of "retreating behind protectionist walls."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Peter Cooney)