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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| House delays Colombia trade deal | House delays Colombia trade deal |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The US House of Representatives has defied the White House and voted to indefinitely delay action on a free trade deal with Colombia. | The US House of Representatives has defied the White House and voted to indefinitely delay action on a free trade deal with Colombia. |
| President George W Bush sent the free trade agreement to Congress early this week, using a "fast-track" process which requires a vote within 90 days. | President George W Bush sent the free trade agreement to Congress early this week, using a "fast-track" process which requires a vote within 90 days. |
| The House instead voted to eliminate that rule and suspend action. | |
| Colombia's trade minister, Luis Guillermo Plata, said the vote did not mean the 2006 trade pact was dead. | |
| "We are waiting, we are hopeful, we trust that the US government and its Congress are wise enough to find a solution," said Mr Plata. | |
| The pact, signed by the two nations in 2006, is opposed by US labour groups. | The pact, signed by the two nations in 2006, is opposed by US labour groups. |
| The Democrats argue it should not be approved until they are satisfied Colombia has done enough to stop violence against union organisers. | The Democrats argue it should not be approved until they are satisfied Colombia has done enough to stop violence against union organisers. |
| Ahead of the vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also said it could not be considered "unless we address the economic insecurity of America's working families". | Ahead of the vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also said it could not be considered "unless we address the economic insecurity of America's working families". |
| Free trade has become a key issue in presidential campaigning and the battle for control of Congress, against a backdrop of deepening economic woes and rising job losses in the US. | Free trade has become a key issue in presidential campaigning and the battle for control of Congress, against a backdrop of deepening economic woes and rising job losses in the US. |
| 'Election year politics' | 'Election year politics' |
| The House's 224-195 vote to remove Mr Bush's 90-day timetable for the vote on the Colombia deal - and so suspend the process indefinitely - puts it in line for a showdown with the White House. | The House's 224-195 vote to remove Mr Bush's 90-day timetable for the vote on the Colombia deal - and so suspend the process indefinitely - puts it in line for a showdown with the White House. |
| This is a precipitous step in the wrong direction John BoehnerHouse Minority Leader | This is a precipitous step in the wrong direction John BoehnerHouse Minority Leader |
| Mr Bush said in a statement that the House vote was "damaging to our economy, our national security and our relations with an important ally". | Mr Bush said in a statement that the House vote was "damaging to our economy, our national security and our relations with an important ally". |
| He accused the Democrats of sending a message that the US would turn its back on its allies "when it is politically convenient". | He accused the Democrats of sending a message that the US would turn its back on its allies "when it is politically convenient". |
| The decision to suspend action on the bill means it is unlikely it will come up for consideration before Mr Bush's term in office ends early next year. | The decision to suspend action on the bill means it is unlikely it will come up for consideration before Mr Bush's term in office ends early next year. |
| Republican lawmakers criticised the Democratic House majority for playing what they termed election year politics. | Republican lawmakers criticised the Democratic House majority for playing what they termed election year politics. |
| "This is a precipitous step in the wrong direction," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, adding that the action was "nothing short of political blackmail". | "This is a precipitous step in the wrong direction," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, adding that the action was "nothing short of political blackmail". |
| The Democrats counter that Mr Bush sent the bill to Congress despite their warnings that it lacked sufficient support to approve it. | The Democrats counter that Mr Bush sent the bill to Congress despite their warnings that it lacked sufficient support to approve it. |
| Ms Pelosi said the bill could still pass, if measures were taken to secure the US economy, but that Mr Bush had "abandoned the traditions of consultations that have governed past agreements". | Ms Pelosi said the bill could still pass, if measures were taken to secure the US economy, but that Mr Bush had "abandoned the traditions of consultations that have governed past agreements". |
| 'Strong friend' | 'Strong friend' |
| Ahead of the vote, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the Democrats would be "effectively killing" the Colombia free trade pact if they decided to suspend the fast-track process. | Ahead of the vote, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the Democrats would be "effectively killing" the Colombia free trade pact if they decided to suspend the fast-track process. |
| Mrs Pelosi says she is concerned about the impact on American workers | Mrs Pelosi says she is concerned about the impact on American workers |
| The White House has pushed for Congress to approve the deal because it sees Colombia as an important US ally in Latin America. | The White House has pushed for Congress to approve the deal because it sees Colombia as an important US ally in Latin America. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticised the Democratic-led Congress for failing to support the efforts made by "this strong friend of America" to improve stability. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticised the Democratic-led Congress for failing to support the efforts made by "this strong friend of America" to improve stability. |
| US business groups have also supported the agreement, arguing it will help US exports. | US business groups have also supported the agreement, arguing it will help US exports. |
| The issue of free trade has also been prominent on the primary campaign trail, with attention focused chiefly on the North American Free Trade Agreement, or Nafta. | The issue of free trade has also been prominent on the primary campaign trail, with attention focused chiefly on the North American Free Trade Agreement, or Nafta. |
| Sparring on trade by Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has intensified as the 22 April vote in Pennsylvania, a state threatened by the economic downturn, approaches. | Sparring on trade by Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has intensified as the 22 April vote in Pennsylvania, a state threatened by the economic downturn, approaches. |
| At the weekend, Mrs Clinton's chief campaign strategist, Mark Penn, had to step down after he held a meeting on behalf of his lobbying firm with representatives of the Colombian government - which is pressing the US Congress to pass the free trade deal. | At the weekend, Mrs Clinton's chief campaign strategist, Mark Penn, had to step down after he held a meeting on behalf of his lobbying firm with representatives of the Colombian government - which is pressing the US Congress to pass the free trade deal. |
| Mrs Clinton opposes the Colombian agreement as it stands. | Mrs Clinton opposes the Colombian agreement as it stands. |