Australian Prime Minister John Howard won promises Thursday of quick US action to approve a new free trade agreement in meetings with President George W Bush and congressionalleaders.

"I assured the prime minister that I'll work with the leadership in our Congress to move this agreement forward," Bush said after a White House meeting with Howard, a staunch ally in the US war on terror.

"This agreement is good for both countries, and our Congress and the Australian parliament should ratify the free trade agreement as soon as possible," Bush told reporters.

The largest US labour federation opposes the agreement and American farmers, another influential group in trade issues, are wary of it, which could complicate prospects for quick approval.

However, US House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said he expected the House to approve the trade pact "without much delay.”

The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee scheduled back-to-back hearings on the trade pact June 15 and 16 in another sign that Congress could approve the agreement by the August congressional break.

Senate Finance Committee

Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who has complained about the lack of strong farm group support for the pact, said he would decide after the hearing how quickly he would push for a Senate vote.

Two-way trade between Australia and the United States totals about $28 billion a year. US industry estimates the free-trade deal would increase sales of manufactured goods by about $2 billion in the first year of implementation.

US trade officials also argue the agreement would remove barriers to investment, government procurement and services. They say it also would enhance copyright prote-ctions for music, movies and computer software.

American farmers have been ambivalent. As the agreement was being negotiated, cattle ranchers, dairy and wheat farmers all complained it would do little to boost their exports. US hog farmers, however, see the trade pact as a positive step.

The 13-million member AFL-CIO labour federation opposes the arrangement, which they say would lead to more US jobs moving overseas.

The Bush administration is hoping Congress debates the deal by this summer, before electionyear politicking lessens the chances for a vote in the Senate and House ofRepresentatives.