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Letter: CAFTA threatens to take away jobs

Friday, July 8, 2005 | 9:10 a.m.

In his May 31 press conference, President Bush admitted that the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) contains a "geopolitical" purpose that he described as "support for young democracies." In other words, CAFTA is intended to be a form of foreign aid for El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

Yet no U.S. president was elected to help any nation but our own. A few days after the president's revealing admission, the administration-aligned Center for Security Policy (CSP) published a report noting that the pact would actually account for "an almost imperceptible fraction of U.S. trade." As is widely known, there is very little wealth in these countries to purchase American goods. But, the Washington-based think tank added, "CAFTA would help create jobs in the region."

Obviously, the new jobs would detract from our nation's employment rolls and further erode our manufacturing base. The North American Free Trade Agreement has already precipitated the loss of more than 900,000 U.S. jobs. CAFTA would add to this attack on America's middle class. When it comes before them for a vote, every member of the House should reject the pact.

KEN HOVEY

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