Free Trade and Columbia

The WSJ reports that President Obama might me more inclined towards free trade then either the left or right would like to believe. In this article, he appears committed to trading with Columbia. Money quote:

At the Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain, Mr. Obama asked to be seated next to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, and the pair discussed the deal, U.S. officials said. During his presidential campaign, Mr. Obama had voiced opposition to the pact, citing violence toward labor organizers in Colombia. The deal, which would allow free trade between the two nations, is awaiting ratification in the U.S. Senate and has already been approved by Colombia's congress.

Since taking office, Mr. Obama has struck a more-positive tone on free trade than he often did during the campaign. He and aides have spoken out against protectionism, and in Mexico last week he declined to raise the question of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite a pledge to do so last year.

Even so, the President's about-face on NAFTA (with I am pleased with) reminds us how much of a politician the man really is. I'm sure Columbia knows this.