Thread: Hispanic alliance pushes for trade pact

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July 26, 2005, 11:57PM



Hispanic alliance pushes for trade pact
Pro-CAFTA Latinos needed a voice, group says
By JESSICA HOLZER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Leaders from the Hispanic-American business community, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierriez and House Republicans stood side by side Tuesday to urge passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which they said would benefit Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States by lifting barriers to their exports to Central America.

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"Any way you slice it, CAFTA is a no-brainer," said Michael Barrera, president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "It's good for the expanding Hispanic business community in the U.S."

Anne Alonzo, co-founder of the Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade, a coalition of 130 groups mostly from the business community, said the deal is important to the economies of Central America.

"We share strong familial, cultural, language and important economic ties with Central and Latin America," she said. "We care deeply about the development of this region and we do not want to turn our backs on this hemisphere."

The Senate approved CAFTA, which would govern trade between the United States and five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic, by a 54-45 vote last month. The trade pact faces uncertain prospects in the House, where Democrats are nearly unified in their opposition and several free trade Republicans have defected because of pressure from sugar producers.

President Bush will address House Republicans today as part of the final drive to get the votes of undecided lawmakers.

Since its inception five months ago, the Hispanic free trade group has waged a vigorous advocacy campaign in support of CAFTA. The group sent letters to 250 members of Congress and arranged for 190 Hispanic leaders from across the country to fly to Washington to lobby Congress.

Concern that their views were not being represented by prominent Hispanic groups opposed to the trade pact spurred the business groups to form the alliance. "The Hispanic voice that is pro-free trade wasn't really being heard," said Brent Latham, a group spokesman.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights group, vigorously opposes CAFTA. Gabriela Lemus, the group's director of policy, said CAFTA's provisions on labor rights and environmental protections in Central America are too weak.

Lemus said the trade pact would displace workers in Central America and in the United States and spark more illegal immigration. "We'll end up with double the illegal immigration," she said.

But the Texas chapter of LULAC endorsed CAFTA, as did the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Honduran Association of Houston.

"It's a job creator in Texas," said Roger Rocha, LULAC's state director for Texas, who argued that Texas would benefit more than other states from increased trade with Central America thanks to its two large seaports in Houston and Corpus Christi. "When you start considering those financial elements, the deal looks good."

Rick Jaramillo, chairman of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the common language and cultural ties of Hispanic small-business owners would give them an edge in cultivating business with Central American partners. "CAFTA is a great opportunity for Latino-owned businesses to grow at the same pace as mainstream businesses," he said.

Since its inception five months ago, the Hispanic free trade group has waged a vigorous advocacy campaign in support of CAFTA. The group sent letters to 250 members of Congress and arranged for 190 Hispanic leaders from across the country to fly to Washington to lobby Congress.

Concern that their views were not being represented by prominent Hispanic groups opposed to the trade pact spurred the business groups to form the alliance. "The Hispanic voice that is pro-free trade wasn't really being heard," said Brent Latham, a group spokesman.

These are the ANTI-AMERICAN business groups; the groups that benefit from poverty; that benefit from illegal immigration; that benefit from the decline of the United States and who will rejoice with the END OF THE UNITED STATES.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights group, vigorously opposes CAFTA. Gabriela Lemus, the group's director of policy, said CAFTA's provisions on labor rights and environmental protections in Central America are too weak.

Lemus said the trade pact would displace workers in Central America and in the United States and spark more illegal immigration. "We'll end up with double the illegal immigration," she said.

These are the PRO-AMERICAN Latino and Hispanic American Citizens who see illegal immigration; CAFTA transfer of power to WTO; and the END OF THE UNITED STATES as BOILS ON OUR SOCIETY...same as Any American Citizen.

But the Texas chapter of LULAC endorsed CAFTA, as did the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Honduran Association of Houston.

SO...what's up in Texas? BUSHEY BOY got some "buds" planting some "seeds of favor" and "payola" and "protection". OR maybe their members profit from illegal border crossings; drug trafficking; smuggling, eh? Maybe they've been provided "offers they can't refuse", eh? Maybe the majority of the members aren't American Citizens, eh? You know, so close to the largest border with Mexico in the United States.