Canada's Harper pushes Colombia trade pact

NEW ORLEANS, April 23 (UPI) -- A summit meeting of North American leaders in New Orleans became a sounding board for an endorsement of President Bush's proposed trade pact with Colombia.

Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper endorsed the trade agreement, which has stalled in Congress, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

"I think that a rejection of, or turning our backs, to such an ally as Colombia could create long-term problems for our countries in South America," Harper said Tuesday as the two-day summit ended.

In Congress, a rule change has allowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to put the Colombia Free Trade Agreement on hold. "Democrats voted to put the economic needs of the American people first," Pelosi said.

Bush also told reporters Tuesday the United States was "not in a recession."

"But there's no question we're in a slowdown," he said.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., responded quickly. "It seems like President Bush is living on another planet if he thinks our economy isn't in a recession," he said.