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The U.S. Senate passed
a bill authorizing the Central American Free Trade Agreement-Dominican
Republic in a Thursday night vote, sending the agreement,
which is a top Bush administration priority, to the House
of Representatives. The bill passed on a bipartisan 54-45
vote, although most Democrats opposed it.
The House will take up the issue this month, but it is expected
to have a rocky reception. Many Republicans from Southern
states oppose the measure because they fear it will send
textile industry jobs to Central America. Others from agricultural
states in the upper Midwest worry about its effect on agricultural
trade, and virtually all Democrats oppose it.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns celebrated the passage.
"I commend the United States Senate for passing CAFTA-DR,"
he said in a statement. "CAFTA is another important step
in building new markets and improving the competitive position
of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace."
J. Patrick Boyle, president and chief executive of the American
Meat Institute, said the passage "signals new opportunities
and growth for producers and processors throughout the Americas."
Pork producers, who have as much to gain from CAFTA as any
group, called the passage "a major win," and the National
Pork Producers Council will mobilize producers over the
July 4 recess to lobby their congressmen.
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, meanwhile, blasted
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers
of America, which opposes CAFTA and sent a fact-finding
team to the region last week. R-CALF cited far lower production
costs and feed costs, as well as radically lower prices
for antibiotics and other medications, along with substandard
slaughter facilities in some Central American countries,
as being among the reasons it opposes the pact. NCBA responded
that CAFTA addresses most of R-CALF's concerns, and takes
away several advantages that various countries, particularly
Nicaragua, enjoyed under present trade agreements.
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