WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman issued the following
statement regarding today's submission by the Administration of the United
States - Central American - Dominican Republic implementing bill to the
Congress:
"I'm pleased that the President today submitted to Congress the implementing
bill for the Central American - Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. I hope
that the Congress will take up this agreement at the earliest possible time.
"We've made excellent progress - with bipartisan majorities in both the
Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee approving the
bill last week. We still have a lot of work to do, but we cleared a major hurdle
last week. Momentum is building and I look forward to working with Congress on
passing this essential compact between the United States and our friends in
Central America and the Carribean.
"I have been working closely with my former colleagues -- Republicans and
Democrats alike --to address their concerns and win support for this important
agreement. CAFTA-DR is critical to the economic and political stability of these
young democracies and will level the playing field for U.S. workers and farmers
by opening up new markets in countries that already enjoy mostly duty-free
access to our market."
