14 July 2004
Central American Nations Call For U.S. Ratification of CAFTA
Central Americans vow to strengthen enforcement of labor laws
Washington -- Trade ministers from Central America and the Dominican Republic have called on the U.S. Congress to ratify a recently negotiated free-trade agreement between their region and the United States.
In a July 13 joint statement issued following their meeting at the Washington headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the trade ministers called for the "most rapid passage and implementation by the United States" of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
The trade ministers also said they will take steps to strengthen the enforcement of labor standards in their countries.
"We recognize that the labor dimension is critical to passing" CAFTA, said Guatemalan Trade Minister Marcio Cuevas, "and we are fully committed to taking now the actions necessary to strengthen our record of compliance and enforcement."
The ministers said that expanding trade and improving labor laws are mutually reinforcing goals, pointing out that the implementation of CAFTA's labor provisions would contribute to their countries' welfare.
"Putting in place the labor provisions under CAFTA will only serve to accelerate our own economic and social progress," said the trade ministers.
In addition, the trade ministers said they had agreed to establish a vice-ministerial working group that will draft recommendations on steps countries should take to improve compliance with and enforcement of labor laws. The working group will consult with employers and workers' organizations and other interested parties in the region on strengthening of labor standards in their countries, the trade ministers said.
For his part, U.S. State Department official Roger Noriega said July 13 that President Bush is completely committed to securing U.S. congressional ratification of CAFTA. The president, said Noriega, has stated that CAFTA will be beneficial to all parties in the agreement.
"It is very important to establish this agreement to expand economic opportunity for our people in the United States" and in Central America and the Dominican Republic, said Noriega, who is assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.
Noriega said the Bush administration hopes for bipartisan congressional approval of CAFTA. After consultations with U.S. congressional leaders, it appears that securing support for the agreement will be more likely following November 2 national elections in the United States, he said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
