U.S.-Andean trade talks gain traction

U.S.-Andean trade talks gain traction    The Bush administration said it hopes to conclude a U.S.-Andean free trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador in the next two months.
   Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Regina Vergo returned from Cartagena, Colombia, after a week-long meeting about the agreement. Progress was made on areas such as financial services, transparency and technical barriers to trade, she said.
   The Bush administration is under pressure to finish the U.S.-Andean free trade agreement before the World Trade Organization conference in Hong Kong Dec. 13-18, and spring elections in Colombia and Peru.
   Vergo said Bolivia remains an observer in the free trade talks.