No fences, is that part of the deal?
The answer for us is very simple
Posted on 01/02/2006 10:35:26 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
Six Latin American governments had hoped to start 2006 with a free trade zone that would open the U.S. market to their fledgling industries. Instead, they bogged down in making legal and regulatory reforms, delaying the trade union that was supposed to take effect Sunday.
Proponents of the Central America Free Trade Agreement — CAFTA — fear the delay will mean painful business and trade losses in a region of widespread poverty.
Countries that made extra investments in their products say the holdup postpones the long-anticipated payoff of access to U.S. markets for sectors such as the struggling textile and assembly-for-export industries.
"In Guatemala, we were planning on economic growth of 4.4 percent — the most robust of the region — thanks to CAFTA," said Juan Carlos Paiz, president of the Guatemalan Union of Nontraditional Products.
But the delay is good news for farm groups and others who fought the agreement, arguing it will ruin small producers and other local businesses. U.S. critics say the measure will cost American jobs, particularly in the sugar and textile industries.
"It's a victory, (although) a temporary one," said Jose Pinzon, secretary-general of the Guatemalan General Workers Federation.
President Bush signed the agreement with leaders of five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic in May and Congress ratified it in August.
All six countries must make "technical changes" in customs procedures and regulations regarding intellectual property rights, telecommunications and procurement, said Stephen Norton spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's Office.
Some countries must also formally eliminate tariffs and obstacles to investment.
Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are scrambling to meet the entry requirements by Feb. 1. Nicaragua says it probably won't join until March, while the Dominican Republic says it won't be ready until July 1.
Costa Rica still has not ratified the pact, and may not even join at all. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to debate the topic before February at the earliest.
"None of the Central American nations can begin because they haven't — we haven't — finished clarifying topics" with the U.S. government, said Guatemalan Economy Minister Marcio Cuevas.
Norton said U.S. officials were helping CAFTA nations prepare for the agreement's implementation and predicted they would be added on "a rolling basis."
"The implementation process should not be rushed," he said. "Otherwise the benefits of CAFTA to farmers, workers, businesses and consumers of the United States and of its CAFTA partners could be jeopardized."
Honduras has tackled most of the legal reforms, but President Ricardo Maduro must still approve a series of regulations needed for exporting agricultural products to the United States.
El Salvador's Congress has approved a package of reforms, and President Tony Saca is expected to sign them in early January.
Holiday vacations kept Guatemalan legislators from approving reforms, while in Nicaragua lawmakers are still hashing out intellectual property and copyright laws.
Paiz, of the Guatemalan Union of Nontraditional Products, blamed the United States in large part for the delay, saying Washington was requiring too much of its poorer partners.
"The United States isn't holding open or fair negotiations now," Paiz said. "What we signed was sufficient, and they shouldn't have to ask for more."
Sounds like the CAFTA is one of those.
What? A treaty carries the same force as the constitution? It basically amends the constitution? I am sure glad the R's are for strict interpretation. It won't be long until we have a trade deficit with all of the Central American countries, not just with Mexico.
No fences, is that part of the deal?
The answer for us is very simple
You want to vote Mike Pence out to get speaker pelosi?
That's normally a line item written right into the agreement with Latin American countries.
They love that geetus (sp?) too much for this sort of thing to work.
" What about Constitutional government and elected representation you say? What's that?"
Sadly, that is becoming a thing of the past, and the people just don't seem to care. Maybe it's because there's so many that are ignorant of our Constitution, because they are here illegally, or attended public schools!
I must admit, even though the premise is ridiculous, insisting that all parties to an agreement ratify it at once is quite funny.
You bet I would if I could get them all replaced with people who actually believe in their Oath of Office. We would be out of the UN in 20 minutes. All these globalist treaties would be trashed by lunchtime. The illegals would be packing up by the time the 6pm news aired on TV.
Politicians bog things down? I'm shocked.
You forgot the second part of the sentence: "free trade" forces change in sovereign laws.
Politicians force changes in laws? That's deep.
You are so public schooled.
Citizens go to their representatives to propose laws. THAT is how our government is designed to work. This is the process that is derived from an association "by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good."
Note that the convenant is with citizens, NOT the WTO, not the CAFTA committee.
Then propose a law abolishing the CAFTA committee, whatever that is. Problem solved. [chuckle]
How did you dream this up?
How about a law abolishing Pell grants? They appear to be a waste of taxpayer money, based on your comments.
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