CSI Hails Congressional Vote on CAFTA
Congress' passage of pact shows U.S. will not retreat to isolationism.
Washington, D.C. (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) July 28, 2005 -- The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) hailed
today's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of the U.S.-Central
America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). The agreement will
open up those markets for U.S. service providers, manufacturers, and farmers,
who would have continued to face significant tariff and non-tariff barriers
without the pact.
"We recognize the extremely difficult political
environment in which the vote on DR-CAFTA was taken, and greatly appreciate the
willingness of Members of Congress to support this important agreement," said
Robert Vastine, President of CSI. "This effort demonstrates that the United
States is committed to the pursuit of free trade and open markets, even in the
face of strong isolationist and protectionist pressures."
"Other World
Trade Organization (WTO) members were watching this vote carefully, and its
rejection would have seriously undermined U.S. ability to provide leadership in
the Doha Round," said Vastine. "DR-CAFTA's approval sends a strong message to
our trading partners that the U.S. is serious about trade, particularly the Doha
Round negotiations. We hope that this favorable vote will give further impetus
to the Doha negotiations and that it will strengthen the hand of United States
Trade Representative Robert Portman and his colleagues."
DR-CAFTA opens
markets to U.S. service providers across the spectrum of service industries,
from banking, insurance, and other financial services to audiovisual services,
computer and related services, express delivery, professional services, and
others. The agreement provides market access, regulatory transparency, and other
protections that are currently not afforded to U.S. companies in those markets.
CSI has previously noted CAFTA's benefits for the U.S. service sector.
For a copy of CSI's recent statements on CAFTA to the Senate Finance and House
Ways and Means Committees, click here:
http://www.uscsi.org/publications/papers/05-10-05.htm.
For a shorter statement on the highlights of the agreement for U.S.
service providers, click here: http://www.uscsi.org/pdf/CAFTAserviceshighlights.pdf.
Contact:
John Goyer
(202) 289-7460 ext 22
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb266971.htm