Max Baucus: “the English poet, Thomas Gray, once said: ``Commerce changes the fate and genius of nations.'' The United States has…”

“the English poet, Thomas Gray, once said: ``Commerce changes the fate and genius of nations.'' The United States has always understood that commerce improves our fate and sharpens our genius. We know opening the channels of commerce creates new opportunity, generates new ideas, and forms new partnerships. We know global commerce makes us more competitive, more innovative, and more productive--but also sometimes more difficult. Today, the Senate has a historic opportunity to build on this legacy by approving our free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. These agreements will increase exports of U.S. goods and services. They will create tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs. They will bind us even more closely to the three important allies. Colombia, especially, has returned from the brink of becoming a failed state to being the third largest economy in Latin America and one of its most respected leaders. It is astounding just how far Colombia has come. It has a lot further to go, but considering the state of Colombia 15, 20 years ago, with the narcotics trade, paramilitary forces, and assassinations, it is amazing how far they have come. A lot of this goes to the courage of the Colombian people, and especially to the leaders. It has not been easy, to say the least. Panama is the crossroads of global commerce and among the fastest growing economies in the Western Hemisphere.…”