BREAKING - U.S. Reaches Central America Trade Deal

[redqueen]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=&e=5&u=/ap/20031217/ap_on_bi_ge/free_trade_15

WASHINGTON - Overcoming a last-minute snag on textiles, the United States reached a free trade agreement on Wednesday with four Central American countries.

Negotiators reached agreement in all areas, including textiles and agriculture, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick announced at a news conference with the trade ministers of Guatemala, El Salvador (news - web sites), Nicaragua and Honduras.

"Negotiations began last January, and today we have fulfilled that vision with a cutting-edge, modern free-trade agreement to tear down the tariff walls that block trade between the United States and Central America, between friends (news - web sites) and neighbors," Zoellick said.

A fifth nation, Costa Rica, abruptly left the talks on Tuesday complaining about excessive demands being made by the United States for the nation to open up its market to foreign competition in telecommunications and insurance.
--------
the administration submits the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, to Congress early next year

[madrchsod]

1. at least costa rica

has some idea how to run their country..more jobs will be gone from the us and more sweatshops for central america

[smallprint]

3. yes, thank god for costa rica

i'm glad at least one country had the strength to walk away from that mess

[Zuni]

2. these free trade deals

are worse and worse. We should have listened to Ross Perot when he went on a major offensive against NAFTA.
When are Americans going to realize that these free trade deals only increase unemployment?

[Nederland]

4. Increase Unemployment?

When are Americans going to realize that these free trade deals only increase unemployment?

Funny, I seem to recall that in the years after NAFTA passed, unemployment fell to its lowest levels in decades.

[redqueen]

6. Briefly, employment went up.

Surely you see this was influenced in no small way by the technology bubble?

It's gone now... so what have you to say for these agreements now?

[evil_orange_cat]

5. a victory for Multi-Nationals... a loss for everyone else...

:(