Upcoming topic:CAFTA-DR

Posted by Bhumika Ghimire Mar 20, 2006

According to the United States government, "The Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)creates the second-largest U.S. export market in Latin America, behind only Mexico, and the 10th largest U.S. export market in the world."

The agreement was signed into law by the President on August 2, 2005.

Although the signatories to the agreement have praised the agreement as being revolutionary in increasing trade between US and Central America, there are oppositions. The opponents say that the agreement in the long term will hurt America, increase corporate domination over democracy, and reduce labor rights.

This week we will discuss CAFTA looking at positives and negatives. We invite you to take part in the discussions to share your views about the agreement.

For more information on CAFTA, please visit the following sites:

Opposition to CAFTA: http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=2

Washington Office on Latin America:

http://www.wola.org/economic/cafta.htm