Author: Editorial

Source: Orlando Sentinel 

President George W. Bush finally has started the clock running for congressional action on a free-trade agreement with Colombia signed almost a year and a half ago. Lawmakers have 90 legislative days to accept or reject the deal. It would be a historic mistake for them to miss this chance to advance U.S. economic interests and bolster a staunch ally. 

Mr. Bush was justified in defying pleas from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay submitting the agreement. His administration has conducted hundreds of meetings with members of Congress on the deal, and led trips to Colombia. 

Nearly a year ago, the administration agreed at Democrats' insistence to include stronger labor and environmental protections in the deal. Had Mr. Bush waited longer, Congress might have adjourned this year without acting. 

This is the same agreement that led to the resignation of a top strategist for Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, Mark Penn. His public-relations firm was hired by Colombia to lobby Congress for the deal. Mrs. Clinton has said she opposes it. So has her rival for the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama. 

Both candidates speak for many congressional Democrats when they contend that trade agreements hurt the American economy. But the facts don't back up that contention -- especially not in the case of the Colombia deal. 

The deal would give U.S. companies and farmers the same open access to the Colombian market that its firms and growers already have to the U.S. market. More than 90 percent of Colombian goods enter the United States duty free, but U.S. exports to Colombia face tariffs of up to 35 percent. 

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates the deal would increase U.S. exports to Colombia by $1.1 billion a year. That would be especially good news in Florida, which accounted for almost a quarter of U.S. exports to Colombia in 2006. 

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, who has not taken a position on the deal yet, would be a key vote in its favor. 

With U.S. help, Colombia has gained ground in its struggle with narco-terrorist rebels and strengthened its democratic institutions and economy. It has reduced violence against union members. It has stood with the United States against Venezuela's anti-American policies. 

Congress would deal a crippling blow to this relationship and to U.S. credibility in Latin America if it rejected the trade deal. 

Lately, some Democrats have said a program that helps workers who lose their jobs to trade needs to be renewed and expanded before Congress OKs any new deals. The program is important, but an agreement to broaden it could take a while. The Colombia deal is too time-sensitive to hold hostage. 

Congress needs to approve the deal soon -- before time runs out.