Bush Touts Latin Trade Pact

President Bush issued a ringing defense of the Central American Free Trade Agreement on Thursday, saying it would bring “stability and security” to the United States and the six other nations that are party to it.

The president touted the pact, which faces an uncertain fate in Congress, during a brief appearance in the Rose Garden. As he spoke during a light drizzle, Bush was flanked by the presidents of the other countries involved.

The six leaders are Enrique Bolanos of Nicaragua, Ricardo Maduro of Honduras, Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, Oscar Berger of Guatemala, Tony Saca of El Salvador and Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic. They made appearances this week on Capitol Hill and around the U.S. to promote CAFTA.

If ratified by Congress, the accord would remove tariffs and other import restrictions among the U.S. and the six nations. A vote could occur late this month.

Critics, which include some Republican and many Democratic lawmakers, say that it would lead to job losses in the U.S. and that it lacks sufficient labor and environmental safeguards.

“I believe CAFTA is where Congress draws the line on America’s failed trade policies,” Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.) said in a statement. “This trade deal was negotiated over a year ago and has not been submitted to Congress for a vote in all that time, because the administration knows the votes are not there to pass it.”

Dorgan said he and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina were leading efforts to stop CAFTA in the Senate. He also described the visits the six presidents made to Capitol Hill on Wednesday as “unprecedented and desperate lobbying” by foreign heads of state.

To counter the White House event, a group of Latino leaders held a conference call with reporters, vowing to fight CAFTA. Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Esteban Torres said the agreement would be a setback for citizens of the CAFTA countries.

Bush rejected such assertions. “CAFTA brings benefits to all sides. For the newly emerging democracies of Central America, CAFTA would bring new investment that means good jobs and higher labor standards for their workers.”

The president said the trade deal would also benefit U.S. farmers, businesses and workers. “Under existing rules, most of Central America’s exports already enter the United States duty-free. But our products still face hefty tariffs there.”

The president added that the agreement would “promote democratic governance” and human rights.

“Today, a part of the world that was once characterized by oppression and military dictatorship now sees its future in free elections and free trade.... America needs to continue to support them as they walk down the road of openness and accountability,” he said.