Foes seeking vote to kill pact with Central America

[Judi Lynn]

Foes seeking vote to kill pact with Central America

Jim Abrams
Associated Press
Jun. 1, 2005 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - It took less than three months for President Bush to push through Congress separate trade deals with Australia, Chile, Morocco and Singapore, but his biggest one, Central America, has been lingering for a year.

Despite another call Tuesday by Bush for Congress to pass it, the people clamoring most for a vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement are not its supporters but opponents confident they can kill it.

"Put it to a vote immediately, or junk it and start over," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who contends the agreement would result in more Americans losing jobs and a bigger trade deficit.

Backers of CAFTA had predicted a May vote on the pact that would eventually eliminate duties on almost all U.S. manufactured and farm products in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0601cafta01.html