Christopher Padilla has spent 15 years in international trade.

He knows that deals like the 2005 Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, aren't going to make everybody happy.

"We understand that some people are fearful of foreign competition," said Padilla, "but Americans need to realize that those who benefit from trade far outnumber the relatively few who are hurt by it."

Fresh off a trip to Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Padilla can attest to the fact that free trade has made millions of lives across the world better.

"I've seen indigenous farmers in Latin America selling broccoli and snowpeas and cauliflower to the U.S. for the first time, and making money to send their kids to school," noted Padilla.

Some Americans have resisted free trade- especially farmers who fear their products have less appeal in a competitive global environment.

Expanding trade partners, however, may not be the largest obstacle for such workers.

"It's not just about trade," declared Shenandoah University Business Professor Miles Davis. "There are also advancements in technology, there are advancements in productivity, that cause job loss."

With emerging economies like China's only getting stronger and more diverse, future U.S. trade policy will target relations in Asia.

"How do we deal with China and India- the rise of these two countries in the global economy," wondered Padilla. "[The two possess] huge new potential markets, but they also pose big problems."

Trade agreements increase commerce by either dropping or lowering taxes on goods.