Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-jl) -- United States President George W. Bush said on Thursday that the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru is one the tasks he needs to complete before his term ends at the end of 2008.

Speaking at a press conference held at the White House Rose Garden, he indicated that he has a deep desire for the trade treaties with Peru, Panama, and Colombia to be completed by the U.S. Congress and his administration.

Additionally, he expressed his desire to also complete the proposed FTA with the Asian-Pacific nation of South Korea as well.

"We need to further the work we've done on the Korean free trade agreement," commented Bush.

U.S. Democrats and Republicans recently came to an agreement on labor and environmental issues lacking in the Latin American FTAs.

Peruvian foreign trade authorities have expressed their content and optimism in ratifying the US-Peru FTA before September.

If that is the case, the U.S. Congress will have to start motions to extend the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) -which gives Peru many commercial trade benefits in exchange for anti-drug stipulations. The ATPDEA pact is scheduled to expire at the end of next month.