The trade deal has been held up amidst concerns over Colombia’s record on human rights. But Bush scored a victory Tuesday when the Senate overwhelmingly approved a new trade deal with Peru. The final vote was 77 to 18. Republican Senator Kit Bond of Missouri said the pact would help counter the influence of leaders like Hugo Chavez.

Sen. Kit Bond: “We have an opportunity to establish good working relationships with Peru, with Colombia, with Panama, to show the leaders of the opposition in Venezuela that there’s a better way than Hugo Chavez and his blind
adherence to the Castro model in Cuba.”

The House OKed its version of the Peru deal last month. Amazon Watch says the agreement will grant new rights for oil companies to drill in the Peruvian Amazon, benefiting US corporations including Hunt Oil, ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum and Newmont Mining.