Two big developments on the truly revolutionary idea of free trade extending from the North Slope all the way to Tierra del Fuego.

Colombia is on the edge of signing a free trade pact with the U.S., according to Rob Portman of the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. The pact, if they can reach the finish line, is Colombia’s ticket to the first world and a stinging blow to the hideous anti-free-trade regime of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, who has destroyed much of his country’s private sector, branding it an enemy instead of a job- and value-creator, and driving it out of business. Free-Market News has the story here.

Here is a transcript of Portman’s thoughts:

First of all we have over the last year had very positive negotiations
with Colombia. I believe we are very close to finalizing an agreement. There are a few outstanding issues. President Uribe was here last week as you may know. We had an excellent meeting with him. He also met with the President. We believe that it would be in the interest of the United States to expand our current agreement with Peru, which is currently on Capitol Hill for consultation, by the way, to include the other Andean countries including Colombia. And we are hopeful that we can finalize the agreement and then move Peru and Colombia and Ecuador even together. So that’s our hope.

In terms of specific issues, I think we’ve come a long way, but we continue to have some market access issues, some what are called SPS phytosanitary issues in the area of agriculture. But I believe we will be able to close the gap and come together with an agreement soon.

President Uribe by the way, was a superb negotiator for his interests and his country last week. He’s very influential here in Washington. He has a lot of friends. He’s a very persuasive negotiator, so it went very well.

But that’s not even all.

Pro-free market candidate Oscar Arias in Costa Rica apparently has won the election, after a long, but fair recount in a tight race. His margin was 18,000 votes, a decent one for a small country, and the near-loss experience hopefully will make him humble, something that will do him good. Free trade wins there! Costa Rica has opted for real and sustainable prosperity instead of Chavista dependency, isolation and ruin. El Salvador isn’t going to walk off with it all, Costa Rica’s a player for prosperity too!

Costa Rica and Colombia are saying Y-E-S to free trade!

If it all comes together, it’s a great day for free trade in our hemisphere!

Will update with blogger coverage soon.