Central American Trade Deal a Bad One

In “Free Trade Looks South” (editorial, Dec. 18) you applaud the completion of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement. But CAFTA is neither free trade nor fair trade and is a recipe for disaster in Central America. When the U.S. forces another country to lift barriers to trade while maintaining high levels of subsidies for agribusiness at home, it is not free trade. And when more than a million small farmers are pushed off the land (as occurred in Mexico following the North American Free Trade Agreement), it is not fair.

CAFTA is also a step backward for organized labor in Central America as, unlike earlier trade agreements, it does not require compliance with international labor standards. You write that “if CAFTA becomes a reality, it should be structured so that sweatshops are not the chief new job opportunity” and mention the need for “environmental protections.” Yet under the trade promotion authority granted to President Bush by Congress, our elected representatives will be allowed only an up or down vote on the agreement. CAFTA cannot be amended or improved. We (and our Central American neighbors) will be stuck with CAFTA if it is ratified.

You characterize opponents of CAFTA as “globalphobics” and “protectionists.” Name-calling cannot be a substitute for serious analysis of the potential impact of this trade agreement. The U.S. ought to promote trade and development policies that make our Latin American neighbors true partners in trade. CAFTA is not such an agreement.

Gabrielle Kruks-Wisner

Washington Office on

Latin America