Lawmakers Eye Action on Free Trade Agreements

A key panel in the House of Representatives plans to start action this week on three long-delayed free trade agreements after a failed attempt last week in the Senate, congressional aides said on Tuesday.

The House Ways and Means Committee will meet on Thursday to consider draft legislation for U.S. trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, the aides said.

The Ways and Means panel will work on draft bills that do not include a renewal of federal "trade adjustment assistance," an aide said, referring to a retraining program for displaced workers opposed by many Republicans.