Congressman Linder Speaks in Support of DR-CAFTA on House Floor

July 20th, 2005

United States Congressman - John Linder

CONGRESSMAN LINDER SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF DR-CAFTA ON HOUSE FLOOR

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman John Linder (R-GA) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the "Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement" (DR-CAFTA). It is expected that the DR-CAFTA Implementation Act (H.R. 3045), legislation to implement the trade agreement, will be considered by the House in the near future. The Senate approved its version of the legislation (S.1307) on June 30, 2005, by a vote of 54-45.

Congressman Linder's prepared statement of support for DR-CAFTA is as follows:

"I rise today in support of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement.

"While DR-CAFTA countries already enjoy duty-free access to the U.S. market for the majority of their exports through U.S. trade preference programs, these countries often have high tariff and non-tariff barriers for U.S. exports.

"Under the DR-CAFTA, barriers to U.S. exports in these countries would be drastically reduced. More than 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial exports, and over half of U.S. farm exports, to Central America would become duty-free immediately with the agreement's enactment, and the rest would be phased-out over time. DR-CAFTA would also benefit the State of Georgia, which I represent, by providing new market access for our State's products.

"DR-CAFTA will also help the U.S. and DR-CAFTA countries compete with China, a growing economic force in the world market. Seventy-one percent of apparel from DR-CAFTA countries currently enters the United States using U.S. yarns and fabrics, while only one-tenth of 1 percent of apparel from China enters the United States using U.S. yarn or fabric. Upon passage of DR-CAFTA, more than 90 percent of all apparel made in the region will be sewn from fabric and yarn made in the U.S., thereby preserving a critical market for U.S. textile exports.

"Finally Mr. Speaker, in addition to the many economic benefits this agreement will bring to U.S. exports, the DR-CAFTA will also help to encourage economic and political reforms in Central America and hopefully, democracy. Trade is a very powerful tool the U.S. can use to proliferate the principles of freedom and democracy worldwide.

"I urge my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting DR-CAFTA. It's the right thing to do."

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