US lawmaker eyes early 2011 votes to pass trade bills that include Panama

Republicans in the US House of Representatives want to work with President Barack Obama to pass long-delayed free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in the first six months of 2011, a US lawmaker said.

"There's a lot of discussions due obviously with the White House and the Senate as well, but that is our goal," said Representative Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican.

Approval of the trade deals would show the shift in power brought by last month's elections that gave Republicans more power in the Congress.

Original source: Reuters