Accord Reached On Trade Deals

Democrats have struck a deal with the White House that beefs up labor and environmental standards in pending free-trade pacts, clearing the way for agreements with Peru, Panama,  South Korea, and Colombia. Provisions will be written into future deals banning forced labor, child labor and workplace discrimination, the Washington Post reports.

The Bush administration had resisted such strictures, on business fears that they might strengthen labor unions in the U.S. But officials hope the compromise could lead to decreased Democratic resistance to other agreements supported by the GOP. (More globalization stories.)