U.S. Favors Free Trade, Sees China Threat

"I am reasonably confident that Peru and Panama will get approved [this year], but I would not bet the ranch," says Peter Hakim, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank that collaborated with Zogby on the poll. "Colombia has no chance of ratification this year. I think there is a 50-50 prospect next year, if Colombians try to address the Democrats' ...concerns." However, the Zogby poll doesn't not necessarily contradict the growing protectionist sentiment in Congress, Hakim says. "American support for free trade had declined significantly over the years," he says. "Certainly to the extent congress reflects public opinion, support is ebbing." http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=1525

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