Issue Position: Trade - CAFTA

Issue Position

The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)

Congressman Kucinich remains firmly opposed to CAFTA and to all free trade agreements following the NAFTA model that benefit multinational corporations while harming workers, diminishing environmental protections and limiting access to healthcare for the poor. The Congressman has made efforts to work with legislators across borders to unify opposition to DR-CAFTA.

In the 109th Congress, Congressman Kucinich hosted Central American legislators from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua who opposed DR-CAFTA in their own respective countries to brief the U.S. Congress. On May 26, 2005 Congressman Kucinich hosted the Central American legislators at a "Party Effectiveness Luncheon" with the Democratic Caucus and a Congressional staff briefing focused on the unconstitutional manner that CAFTA was passed in the three Central American countries. A few weeks later, Congressman Kucinich assisted fellow Ohioan, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in bringing 10 Central American legislators back to Washington, where they participated in a joint press conference opposed to CAFTA attended by several U.S. Representatives.

In the 108th Congress, Congressman Kucinich initiated a letter signed by 17 Members of Congress to government officials in El Salvador to express opposition to CAFTA and to claim that CAFTA will be harmful to both the United States and El Salvador.

Source