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People desire a world without extreme poverty, lawlessness, hunger,and disease, but the Millennium Development Goals focus largely on alleviating symptoms of poverty, not its causes. If the World Bankand the IMF are to play a constructive role in eradicating poverty,their lending programs must encourage the governments of poorcountries to promote economic growth as the solution to poverty.

China has been a member of the World Trade Organization for almosttwo years but is still dragging its heels on fulfilling its WTOcommitments. Because it is clear that China will not change itsbehavior unless it faces credible prospects of retaliation,persuading it to comply with its WTO obligations will take acombination of economic leverage and diplomatic pressure.

Leaving developing economies outside emerging international security regimes would both widen the gap between the developed and developing worlds and create new opportunities and sanctuaries forterrorists to exploit. The United States should help countries jointhe fight against terrorism by promoting free trade agreements,ensuring that foreign assistance programs do not perpetuate badpolicies, and better organizing U.S. efforts to offer technicalsecurity assistance.

With U.S. influence in Latin America on the wane and China andVenezuela ascendant, a trade agreement makes sense.

Congress should act quickly on bilateral free trade agreementssigned between the United States and allies Peru and Colombia. Suchagreements benefit the economies of all partners and enhance agrowing free trade bloc. Extending trade preferences for a shorttime to Bolivia and Ecuador could sustain market openings whileleaders decide on permanent reciprocal agreements.