Grassley Reschedules Hearing on the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement

Grassley Reschedules Hearing on the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, today announced he has rescheduled a full committee hearing on the United States- Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, at 10 a.m. Now it will be Wednesday, April 13, at 10 a.m. in 628
Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Grassley said the rescheduling came because a joint session of Congress for Ukrainian President Victor Yushenko is now scheduled for April 6, thus creating a scheduling conflict for committee members.

"CAFTA is the foundation of our relationship with the Dominican Republic and Central America," Grassley said. "It's an important agreement that will provide significant benefits to U.S. farmers, manufacturers and service workers. I believe the U.S. Congress needs to turn our attention to this important agreement soon. Our Finance Committee hearing will be a key first step. CAFTA is an important part of the Finance Committee's trade agenda. It deserves the early attention of the Senate."

The hearing will address general issues surrounding the trade agreement. A date for informal committee consideration of the implementing legislation by the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over international trade, has not been set.

Central America and the Dominican Republic make up the second-largest U.S. export market in Latin America, behind Mexico and larger than Brazil.

http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2005/prg032905b.pdf