Schwab urges action on Colombia, Peru trade pacts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress should not let concerns about Colombia's history of violence block approval of a free trade agreement with that country, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on Monday.

The Bush administration shares Congress' concern and is encouraging Colombia President Alvaro Uribe to take further steps to curb violence, but it also "is important that the United States not rebuke a leader who is making a difference," Schwab said in a speech to a women's trade group.

"We must encourage those (in Latin America) who offer a positive alternative to anti-democratic, anti-market regimes such as those in Venezuela and Cuba," she said.

Colombia's long history of deadly violence against trade unions has made the trade pact much more controversial than similar ones with Panama and Peru.

Uribe, one of the Bush administration's closest allies in South America, has promised action on the concerns. But U.S. labor groups say Congress should wait to see progress before it considers the deal.

Schwab expressed confidence Congress would eventually approve all three agreements, beginning with Peru in July.

She noted the Colombian agreement was the most economically significant of the three pacts, but gave no firm indications when she expected Congress to consider it.