Hope for Free Trade

Conn Carroll /

Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative-designate looks on as he is nominated by United States President-elect Barack Obama at a press conference Friday afternoon, December 19, 2008 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

Throughout last year’s campaign, President Barack Obama expressed skepticism about the value of free trade, sending signals that America’s commitment to free markets would die with his administration. These fears were only worsened when the Obama administration passed an Omnibus spending bill that has already caused a job killing trade war with Mexico.

But now there is a glimmer of hope. Politico reports:

During the [Summit of the Americas], President Barack Obama directed U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to lead a review of the ultracontroversial Colombia deal to “identify and work through any outstanding issues we might have so we might move forward with that,” Kirk said Monday in a conference call with reporters. “And that process will begin immediately.” (more…)