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Kaptur Joins Central American Legislators to Speak out Against CAFTA

Date: June 15, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Trade


KAPTUR JOINS CENTRAL AMERICAN LEGISLATORS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST CAFTA
Jun 15, 2005

Diputado Salvador Arias to Travel to Ohio on Friday

WASHINGTON -- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) joined Members of Congress and Central American legislators today to speak out against the proposed Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). The legislators accepted her invitation to present first-hand how the trade proposal would negatively impact family farmers, the environment, and working men and women in their countries.

"As this Congress considers an expansion of the North American Free Trade America (NAFTA) to Central America -- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic -- we are honored to welcome the legislators from the respective countries," said Kaptur. "We believe CAFTA expands the failed trade policies of NAFTA. And we are united in support of worker rights, the environment, family farmers and higher standards of living for working men and women across the continent."

The elected representatives from Central America sent a letter opposing CAFTA to the presidents of the Central American CAFTA countries and to the President of the United States on Tuesday.

"We must renegotiate for a trade agreement with Central America that will build a middle class and raise the standard of living, not harm working families and farmers," said Kaptur. "This is not about us in our country versus people in other countries. This is about supporters of fair, mutually beneficial trade teaming up for trade agreements that raise standards of living for everyone and put people and communities before multinational corporations."

On Friday, Diputado Salvador Arias of El Salvador will travel with Rep. Kaptur to Cincinnati, Ohio to discuss the negative impact that DR-CAFTA would have on the U.S. and Central America. Ohio alone has lost over 46,000 jobs due to NAFTA. Cincinnati was one of nine cities where the original rounds of CAFTA negotiations were held.

Today, the House Ways and Means committee met for a mock-mark up of the proposed legislation implementing CAFTA.

http://www.kaptur.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1392

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