Thread: Central American trade pact needed

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... 500364.htm

Posted on Wed, Apr. 27, 2005




EDITORIAL


Central American trade pact needed


Next month, Congress is expected to take action on an important free trade agreement with four Central American counties and the Dominican Republic. The pact, known as CAFTA, is similar to the much larger North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been in effect for 11 years.

CAFTA merits strong support from the Bush administration and Congress. Unfortunately, it is not getting the backing it deserves from either. While the administration favors passage, it also has embarked on many perfectionist adventures over the past few years. Some in Congress fear CAFTA as they feared NAFTA 11 years ago.

But there are no good arguments against CAFTA. The bloc of nations that make up CAFTA -- Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic -- accounted for $31.9 billion in trade in 2003 and constitute our 13th largest trading partner -- larger than Brazil or Australia.

CAFTA would remove many high tariffs against U.S. exports. Few U.S. tariffs would be eliminated because for the most part there aren't any. For example, CAFTA would remove a 16.7 percent tariff on U.S. produce, a 10.6 percent tariff on U.S. grain and a 14.7 percent tariff on U.S. meat products.

At present the United States has no such tariffs on those food products except for the 3 percent on meat products produced in CAFTA countries.

CAFTA would open up markets for American goods and eliminate the advantages now enjoyed by Canada and the European Union, which currently have more favorable trade pacts with CAFTA nations.

An increase in trade is not the only positive aspect of CAFTA. It also would help improve economic conditions in CAFTA countries, which in turn helps maintain political stability in nations that not long ago were run by dictatorships. That is why two former secretaries of defense in the Clinton administration, William Cohen and William Perry, strongly endorse CAFTA.

Despite the advantages of CAFTA, there are too many members of Congress who believe free trade agreements hurt the U.S. economy and cause job losses. Often they cite NAFTA as an example. Yet in the first 10 years of NAFTA the U.S. labor force grew by more than 18 million jobs. Trade between the United States and its NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, has more than doubled in 10 years and now exceeds $600 billion a year, thereby creating jobs in all three nations.

In fact, in the first 10 years of NAFTA (ending in 2004), manufacturing output in the United States has risen 41 percent, compared with 34 percent in the preceding 10 years. By allowing U.S. manufacturers to more efficiently allocate production, NAFTA deserves some of the credit for the healthy increase in U.S. worker productivity since the mid-1990s.

CAFTA would not have nearly the impact of NAFTA, but it is a step in the right direction in a global economy, a reality with which all nations must deal. Let's hope our lawmakers in Washington recognize that global trade is here to stay and that agreements such as CAFTA are important tools in bettering the economic health of the United States and our trading partners.

RIGHT HERE.........this is the weak link!! Where can we get ACCURATE information concering these JOBS. Who benefitted? Illegals or Americans?

Despite the advantages of CAFTA, there are too many members of Congress who believe free trade agreements hurt the U.S. economy and cause job losses. Often they cite NAFTA as an example. Yet in the first 10 years of NAFTA the U.S. labor force grew by more than 18 million jobs

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I guess this is the first time I've seen CAFTA in anything but the worst light. Isn't this the trade agreement that is reported to eliminate our border?

RR

Originally Posted by 2ndamendsis

RIGHT HERE.........this is the weak link!! Where can we get ACCURATE information concering these JOBS. Who benefitted? Illegals or Americans?

Despite the advantages of CAFTA, there are too many members of Congress who believe free trade agreements hurt the U.S. economy and cause job losses. Often they cite NAFTA as an example. Yet in the first 10 years of NAFTA the U.S. labor force grew by more than 18 million jobs

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Maybe they're counting our illegal alien workforce.

RR, NAFTA, CAFTA & FTAA are pieces of the program that will eventually eliminate the "Americas" borders!!!

FYI, remember Bush 1 pushed NAFTA with all he had and Clinton brought up the rear........both sides of the isle are involved.

I mentioned before and now again.........they'll slip this buy while we're attempting to stop the smaller legislation. We're being kept occupied while the BIG DEAL is being made!!

CAFTA would not have nearly the impact of NAFTA, but it is a step in the right direction in a global economy, a reality with which all nations must deal. Let's hope our lawmakers in Washington recognize that global trade is here to stay and that agreements such as CAFTA are important tools in bettering the economic health of the United States and our trading partners

Bullcrap!

This is another step in eliminating the borders and outsourceing our jobs.

Next comes FTAA all part of the globalist plan, The North America's, no borders, free flow of workers.

This would also be a net zero for American jobs, and her people.

This must be stopped in her tracks, even Central America does not want this to happen.

Wouldn't it be ironic if the illegals working in this country lost their jobs due to this move?

As I understand it the folks in Central America don't want this treaty b/c it would allow US imports to compete with their products.

Personally, I know just how they feel.

RR