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House CAFTA Vote Could Come Next Week

But passage of the agreement is far from a sure thing, say Congressional leaders

WASHINGTON, DC - 07/23/05 - Rep. Bill Thomas (R-California), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has indicated that a House vote on the legislation to implement the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) could happen as soon as next Wednesday, July 27, according to the California Institute for Federal Policy Research.

House leaders acknowledge, however, that passage of the agreement is not certain, the Washington, DC legislative research group said in the most recent issue of its Capitol Hill Bulletin.

The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), if implemented, would virtually control the flow of two-way trade between the US and the Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

Although the Bush Administration completed the Agreement a year ago, concerns in Congress about US job losses in the textile and sugar industries, and workers' rights in the Central American countries have delayed consideration of the implementing legislation.

Almost all Democrats are committed to voting against the Agreement, the group said.

In addition, many Republicans have been reluctant to support the pact because of the possible impact it could have on the US textile and sugar industries.

House leaders are working with these groups to alleviate concerns, but some members to date remain uncommitted.

Other Republicans have used the CAFTA legislation as a bargaining chip to get floor consideration of legislation to crack down on China's unfair trade practices.

Thomas has agreed to bring to the floor before the CAFTA vote a bill that would allow Washington to impose countervailing duties on Chinese goods produced with subsidies. The bill also contains other provisions aimed at punishing China.

Despite the efforts to garner reluctant votes, final passage of the legislation remains uncertain. Thomas has already delayed filing the Committee Report to accompany the bill.

Because the legislation is considered "privileged" under the fast-track trade agreement law that governs it, any House member may request an up or down vote on the bill within two days after the report is filed.

A vote on the bill must occur within 15 days of the report's filing.

The Senate passed its CAFTA implementing legislation on June 30, by a narrow, largely party-line vote of 54-44.