WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Labor Department says the government of Bahrain has fallen short of commitments to recognize labor rights and prevent employment discrimination under a free trade agreement with the United States.

But the agency is declining to suspend the free trade pact, despite a request from the AFL-CIO. Instead, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is urging more diplomatic talks with Bahrain to resolve complaints about the Gulf nation’s crackdown on unions and labor reform protesters.

The 6-year-old trade agreement waives tariffs on industrial and consumer products for Bahrain, a key U.S. ally and home to the Navy’s 5th Fleet.

AFL-CIO officials say more talks must be followed with concrete actions to prevent persecution of Bahraini workers and human rights activists.

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