Ney to Oppose Passage of CAFTA

Statement

Ney to Oppose Passage of CAFTA

In advance of tonight's scheduled vote by the House on H.R. 3045, legislation to implement the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), U.S. Rep. Bob Ney (OH-18) has announced that he will oppose passage of CAFTA.

"Over the last several months, I have personally met with countless individuals and organizations on both sides of this important debate, and both sides have put forward solid arguments in support of their position. I have also sat down with President Bush, many of his top trade officials, and with many of my Republican House colleagues. While I have great respect for all of them, this is an issue where I respectfully disagree with many Members of my own party.

"I believe that at a time when America's annual trade deficit is running well over $600 billion, factories in Ohio are continuing to close, Americans' job are being shipped overseas, and illegal immigration remains a growing problem, I simply cannot support a free trade agreement that I believe would do nothing to address these problems.

"Before we move forward with new efforts to lower the barriers to international free trade, we must review the consequences of the policies of the past and address the problems of the present. We must toe a very hard line abroad against those nations such as Communist China that continue to abuse the trade relationships we currently have with them, and here at home we need to be focused completely on helping our workers, helping new businesses open, and helping our economy recover.

"I do not believe CAFTA moves us in that direction and I fundamentally believe that it does nothing to help workers and families in the 18th Congressional District. I cannot support its passage."

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