Area Development
A free trade agreement between the United States and Peru has been passed by the United States Senate with bipartisan support. The House of Representatives passed the measure last month. A statement from the White House praises the agreement, with President Bush declaring that "this agreement will level the playing field for American exporters and investors and will expand an important market in this hemisphere for U.S. goods and services, which will help strengthen economic growth and job creation in the United States." The president is expected to sign the agreement in the coming weeks.