The White House is increasing a push for Congress to approve a trade deal with Peru, Colombia and Panama. The Colombia pact has come under opposition over Colombian President Álvaro Uribe’s record on human rights. In a speech to the Council of Foreign Relations Tuesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Congress to approve the deal.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: “Failing to conclude these agreements would be a great blow to these three countries, for which one cannot assume that there would be easy recovery. It would send a signal loud and clear across the region that the United States can somehow not be trusted to keep its promises.”

Uribe is facing an ongoing scandal over his alleged ties to paramilitaries. Last week, his cousin Mario Uribe resigned amidst allegations he colluded with paramilitary groups.