US Senate passes long-stalled trade deals

WASHINGTON: The US Senate passed long-stalled trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia on Wednesday, sending them to President Barack Obama to sign into law in hopes the accords will spur much-needed job creation.

Lawmakers passed the pacts by 83-15, 77-22 and 66-33 margins, respectively, amid a sometimes angry debate over their impact on the brittle US economy ahead of the November 2012 elections. (AFP)