Statement at Capitol Press Conference on CAFTA

Statement at Capitol Press Conference on CAFTA
July 26, 2005

We are here today to voice opposition to the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. As negotiated by the Bush Administration, it fails the fundamental tests that our trade agreements should meet.

First, our trade agreements must be structured to raise labor standards, not put downward pressures on the rights and protections of American workers. All workers-in the US, the Dominican Republic and Central America-deserve fair wages, safe workplaces, and reasonable working conditions.

Second, all citizens-in the US, the Dominican Republic and Central America-deserve clean air and clean water. Polluting factories that poison our environment should not be located in Managua or San Jose, any more than they should be in Baraboo or Beloit, or Waunakee or Wisconsin Dells.

DR-CAFTA was an opportunity to enshrine these fundamental protections in a model trade agreement that could have served as a template for raising working standards, wages, safety and environmental protections around the world. Instead, it is an opportunity squandered.

Unfortunately, even more than an opportunity squandered, it threatens to undermine those very protections that American workers and their families have every right to expect. We need a truly fair trade deal. DR-CAFTA isn't fair, and it isn't a deal.

http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/pr_display_page.asp?page=pressreleasedisplay&type=1&releaseid=428&pageno=1