US, Colombia likely to announce trade deal on Wednesday

The United States and Colombia are expected to announce a deal Wednesday, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday night. 

U.S. and Colombian officials have ramped up discussions in recent weeks as lawmakers from both parties applied pressure on the Obama administration to wrap up the deal. 

The final remaining issues were over violence toward labor union workers and leaders. 

Senate Republicans vowed to hold up any trade-related nominations, including for the Commerce Department, a spot being vacated by Gary Locke, who has been nominated to become ambassador to China, if the final two agreements with Colombia and Panama weren't completed soon. 

The White House and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk along with Ambassador Miriam Sapiro said they are ready for Congress to consider the South Korea free trade agreement. 

Sapiro said last week that she was meeting with Panamanian trade officials to resolved several outstanding issues, including labor relations.