Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-CENTRAL AMERICA-UNITED STATES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - July 27, 2005)

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Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I had real doubts about CAFTA as it started. In particular, representing a textile district, there were three specific concerns. And the very exciting thing is that this House really went to work to fix those. I am looking at the gentleman from California (Chairman Thomas), who has worked very hard with us, along with Rob Portman, USTR, to address those concerns.

Three of them: one was pockets and linings. That is important only if one comes from a district that makes pockets and linings, I suppose. Another was Mexican cumulation. And then a third was the Nicaraguan TPL.

In working through Rob Portman's office and through the chairman, we were able to get some progress on those, some commitments for some supplemental agreements, some implementation agreements that will address those concerns and go a long way toward fixing the problem in the textile world.

It is not perfect. There are some still in textile districts that are not sure. But I stand here tonight certain that CAFTA is a wise Western Hemisphere strategy. I stand here convinced that it is the best strategy available to combine with our neighbors to the south to compete with the Chinese. If I am concerned, and I am concerned, about the future of the textile industry in competition with China, the best way that I see to fix that is to combine with our neighbors to the south. So I particularly call on those from textile districts to consider is there a better strategy.

This is the best strategy available. Let us vote for CAFTA. Let us pass it and get on with this good strategy.

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