Sander Levin says Congressional Democrats have sent a letter to the president in opposition to new trade deals with Colombia and Peru.

The congressman said labour standards were at the “core” of Democrats’ objections – a sign that the influence of the labour movement within the party has been strengthened by the election result, which saw a notable rise in economic populism among voters.

Thea Lee, policy director of the AFL-CIO union, said, “Colombia is a very emotive issue for people in the labour movement”, adding that the country was regarded as the world’s deadliest for union organisers. More than 1,200 deaths of activists and rank-and-file members have been recorded in recent years. – Financial Times

Pending trade deals with Korea and Malaysia are also on the line, as well as Bush’s “fast-track authority,” which will expire and be up for a vote this summer.

“We have to protect American jobs. We have to protect American manufacturers. And I don’t see enough pro-American attitude,” said Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, who will be chairman next year of the House panel that oversees trade. – Plain Dealer

Bush signed the Colombian trade deal this week, though it has not yet come before Congress for approval.

~Stef