30 December 2005

Central American Trade Pact To Be Implemented on Rolling Basis

USTR says pact will go into effect as CAFTA-DR partners complete commitments

The United States has been working intensively with its partners in Central America and the Dominican Republic to implement a free-trade agreement (known by its acronym CAFTA-DR) that will eliminate trade barriers in the region, says U.S. official Stephen Norton.

In a statement issued December 30, Norton -- the spokesman for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative -- explained that the United States will implement the pact "on a rolling basis" as the signatory countries "make sufficient progress to complete their commitments" under the terms of the trade agreement.

In the meantime, said Norton, the CAFTA-DR countries "can continue to enjoy existing trade preferences" until full implementation takes place.

For additional information, see Central America - Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.

Following is the text of Norton's statement:

(begin text)

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.

December 30, 2005

Statement of USTR Spokesman Stephen Norton Regarding CAFTA-DR Implementation

"The United States has been working intensively with free-trade agreement partners in Central America and the Dominican Republic in order to implement the CAFTA-DR.  The United States will implement the CAFTA-DR on a rolling basis as countries make sufficient progress to complete their commitments under the agreement.

"Several countries are close to being ready to implement but none has completed all of their internal procedures.  For example, on December 15, El Salvador's Congress passed a legislative package to implement the CAFTA-DR.  Once the Congress sends the legislation to President Saca for signature in early January, El Salvador will have the ability to issue further regulations and complete its internal steps and the final CAFTA implementation review process with the United States.

"The United States will continue to work intensively with CAFTA-DR partners to bring them on board as quickly as possible.  At the same time, the implementation process should not be rushed.  Otherwise, the benefits of CAFTA-DR to farmers, workers, businesses and consumers of the United States and of its CAFTA-DR partners could be jeopardized.

"During the interim period before full implementation, countries can continue to enjoy existing trade preferences."

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)