Additional CAFTA Resources
CAFTA Vote Analysis
CAFTA Vote One Year Anniversary
July 27 marks the one year anniversary of the U.S. House of Representatives’ middle-of-the–night ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) by just one vote. This anniversary also lands on the day the World Trade Organization (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy is to recommend a “time out” on Doha Development Round negotiations to the WTO General Council. On this anniversary, AFSC reaffirms its commitment to promote the principles of just trade and peace. We are also announcing our intention to advocate in the U.S. for the rejection of both the Colombia and Peru FTAs, which are likely to go before Congress for an up or down vote this year. More >
CAFTA's Passage Not an Exercise in Democracy
By Arnie Alpert
Setting aside support for "free trade" in order to secure votes to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement, US Trade Representative Rob Portman cobbled together a last-minute deal ensuring that Central American apparel producers would use pockets and linings produced in the United States. Portman also arranged to delay tariff-free imports of Mexican textiles into Central America, and persuaded Nicaragua to limit imports of textiles from China.
The Bush Administration's protectionist side-deals complemented political coercion and bribery to overcome unprecedented bi-partisan resistance to CAFTA. For example, Rep. Jim Kolbe, an Arizona Republican who is one of his party's chief "whips," said he would "twist some Republican arms until they break in a thousand pieces" to gain the necessary votes. Rep. Bill Thomas, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee and was a top CAFTA supporter, openly encouraged fellow Republicans to trade pro-CAFTA votes for highway funds.
While supporters argued CAFTA was needed to promote democracy, the Washington Post reported, "The last-minute negotiations for Republican votes resembled the wheeling and dealing on a car lot." More >
Events
Religious Leaders Host Prayer Breakfast on CAFTA with Members of Congress
Mary Lord, American Friends Service Committee said, "I am a Quaker. I quote Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of Lazarus. It is a parable of indifference to poverty and the consequences. This trade agreement is indifferent to the lives of the poor. Our faith calls us to action." More >
Fact sheets
CAFTA Facts and Myths (PDF)
CAFTA fact sheet
AFSC Statement on the Central American Free Trade Agreement:
CAFTA Does Not Measure UP! February 2005
Why AFSC Opposes CAFTA
News and views
August 2 Stop the CAFTA Vote campaign summarized update on CAFTA
Regular updates sent to the
campaign list serve.
Another View: Can CAFTA before it destroys sovereignty and small farms
By AFSC staff Arnie Alpert published in the NH Union Leader, May 3, 200
CAFTA: A Fork in the Road
While U.S. Senate Finance Committee begins hearings for more NAFTA, Central American government and religious leaders gather as part of a global protest to urge U.S. lawmakers to reject CAFTA. April 13, 2005
AFSC books
Potential Impacts of CAFTA on the Agriculture Sector and Rural Poverty in Nicaragua, by
Adolfo José Acevedo Vogl, 2003, en
espanõl (PDF, 2.3Mb)
The Free Trade Agreement Between the United States and Central America: Economic and Social Impacts, by Raul Moreno, 2003, en espanõl (PDF, 1.3Mb)
Web Resources
Please see the What You Can Do and Other Organizations sections of this site.
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