U.S. recommends March 1 start for CAFTA with El Salvador

U.S. recommends March 1 start for CAFTA with El Salvador

   U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman has recommended that President Bush implement the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement for El Salvador on March 1.

   El Salvador is the first country to receive the recommendation from the USTR.

   El Salvador was the first country to ratify the agreement, passing it in its legislature in 2004. CAFTA was approved by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Bush in 2005.

   The agreement covers the United States, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Every country but Costa Rica has ratified the agreement.

   “We have worked closely with El Salvador over the past several months to ensure that its legislative and regulatory regime reflects the obligations and responsibilities set for in the CAFTA-DR agreement,” Portman said. “We have engaged in this effort as true partners, and I appreciate all of the hard work the government of El Salvador has undertaken to help us reach this historic milestone.”