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Congress under pressure as CAFTA decision nears

By Alwyn Scott

Seattle Times business reporter


JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Jeremy Simer gathers signatures for opponents of the Central American Free Trade Agreement on the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry in an effort to persuade Congressman Jay Inslee, who lives on the island.

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Voting for the Central America Free Trade Agreement ought to be a no-brainer for Adam Smith.

The Democratic congressman represents Tacoma, the busiest seaport in the nation's most trade-dependent state.

Over the years, he has backed a string of similar trade treaties.

Even his name says free trade: His coincidental Scottish namesake authored "The Wealth of Nations," which has defined the benefits of the unfettered market for more than two centuries.

But after a year of indecision, Smith says he'll vote against CAFTA, the proposed trade-liberalizing treaty with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic.

"It's a different agreement," Smith says, reeling off a list of concerns he has after comparing CAFTA with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other trade treaties he's supported.

Trade divisions


Washington's 11-member congressional delegation is divided over the Central American Free Trade Agreement, suggesting a stiff battle in Congress. The delegation has supported prior trade pacts. But in a remarkable break, three Democrats recently declared their opposition to CAFTA. Here's how the votes stand currently:

In favor

Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton.

Opposed

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma

Rep. Brian Baird, D-Olympia

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens.

Undecided

Sen. Patty Murray

Sen. Maria Cantwell

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island

Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Spokane.

"When we have a balanced trade policy that tries to advance worker rights and other goals, then I'm there."

Fear of failure

Much more hangs in the balance with CAFTA than a trade pact with six tiny countries and a few million more dollars a year in exports.

In Washington state, a vote against CAFTA could put lawmakers on the wrong side of an issue that companies such as Microsoft and Boeing support passionately. Yet Smith isn't alone: Two other Washington congressmen oppose CAFTA, and nearly half the state's delegation is on the fence.

Nationally, failure to pass CAFTA in Congress this summer would signal a rethinking of the nation's five-decade push for loosening global trade barriers. Experts fear such a shift could undermine talks at the World Trade Organization, which already are behind schedule. It also could weaken U.S. efforts to forge more regional and bilateral trade deals.

According to vote-counters, CAFTA stands a chance of failing. Currently, some 190 House Democrats and perhaps 40 Republicans oppose CAFTA, including 14 members of the 21-member Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Last week marked a year since the treaty was signed. If it comes to a vote in Congress by July 4, as some predict, it will have languished 13 months. By contrast, treaties with Singapore, Chile, Australia and Morocco, won Congress' approval within two months of being signed by the president.

The White House has yet to send CAFTA to Congress for ratification. Some think the Bush administration may never do so.

"They haven't got the votes," says Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, "and that's precisely why they're waiting."

High stakes for state?

Washington's stake in CAFTA reaches across the state â€â€