OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President

Washington, D.C.
June 23, 2005

Administration Sends CAFTA-DR Bill to Congress
Portman Says Momentum Building

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."

 

###