Visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Friday that the free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru "is the first on the list" in the U.S. Congress for approval.

"The FTA with Peru is doing very well, it is the first on the list. I want to say that this progress would not have been possible without Garcia's leadership and stamina," Gutierrez, heading a U.S. delegation of Congressmen, said after meeting with Peruvian President Alan Garcia.

"We are proud and convinced that through a closer trade relation we are going to be able to contribute with Garcia's view of democracy, economic growth and social justice," Gutierrez said.

Meanwhile, Garcia said "it is almost sure that on Sept. 25 the U.S. Congress Commission will discuss the FTA's possible approval."

The president said he was convinced that once the FTA is approved "it will bring important benefits" to the people, the economy and the relations between the two countries.

The Peru-U.S. FTA, officially called the Commerce Promotion Accord, was signed by both governments in April 2006, when the U.S. Republicans still held a majority in Congress and the Peruvian president was Alejandro Toledo.

After the U.S. legislative elections, the majority shifted to Democrats who demanded amendments to the commerce accord in terms of labor, environmental and intellectual property rights. The amendments were accepted by the Peruvian Congress on June 27.