    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 4, 2007]
    [Pages 1524-1525]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Approval of a Free Trade Agreement With Peru
    December 4, 2007

        I commend the Senate for approving the free trade agreement with
    Peru with strong bipartisan support. 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. Approval of this agreement also signals our firm support for
    those who share our values of freedom and democracy and expanding
    opportunity for all.

    [[Page 1525]]

        Today's action by the Senate also marks the approval of the first
    free trade agreement that fulfills the May 10 bipartisan trade agreement
    with Congress by incorporating enforceable labor and environmental
    standards. I look forward to signing this legislation into law and urge
    Congress to promptly consider and approve our other pending free trade
    agreements, starting with Colombia, which would be important to the
    stability of the region, and including Panama and South Korea.

    Note: The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this statement.