CAFTA Sent to Congress
June 24, 2005
Excerpted from this week's edition of Inside US Trade in an article titled "White House Submits CAFTA Implementing Bill, June Floor Vote Possible:"
Amid signs of negotiations on labor rights, textiles and sugar, the White House yesterday (June 23) sent to Congress the final legislation implementing a free trade agreement with the Dominican Republic and five Central American countries.
This could set the stage for action in the House Ways and Means Committee as early as June 28, sources said. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) said this week he was planning to have a formal committee markup on June 28 or 29.
Under this timetable, the House could vote on DR-CAFTA as early as June 30, but a U.S. trade official said on June 23 no final decisions have been made. There are on-going discussions between the congressional leadership and the Administration, he said.
He said the Senate seems to be more willing than the House to go to a floor vote, probably because the vote is more certain in the Senate. But a Democratic Senate aide said a Senate floor vote was unlikely next week.
The trade official also said with the formal implementing legislation submitted he had no doubts that the DR-CAFTA would ultimately be passed. Under the fast-track procedure, the House has 60 legislative days to act on the bill.