Congress finally gives nod to Peru trade deal

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After months of wrangling, Congress finally seems ready to move forward on a free-trade pact with Peru. Late Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee voted to send legislation for the U.S.-Peru deal to the full Senate for consideration. The House committee that oversees trade is expected to act on the accord within weeks. Under special ‘fast track’ rules, Congress is working under a tight 90-day deadline to approve the deal and can’t make changes to it. The Peru trade pact is the first to move since Democrats took control of Congress, and it still faces opposition from Democrats who feel its labor and environmental standards aren’t tough enough. Even so, it’s expected to pass. A similar trade pact the Bush administration signed with Colombia faces much stronger opposition in Congress.

Posted by Nicole Gaouette in Washington