CAFTA Comes Up Before Congress

NAFTA's "Ugly Stepsister on Steroids" goes to Committee on April 13th



Washington, DC -- The biggest U.S. trade agreement in a decade goes to the 
Senate Finance Committee Wednesday, while the House Ways and Means Committee 
will consider the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) one week 
from today.  Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) has publicly stated that he expects 
to have a floor vote in May.



In response, a broad and diverse coalition has emerged across Wisconsin 
united against CAFTA, with opponents that include farmers, 
environmentalists, labor workers, conservative business owners, teachers, 
local officials, peace activists and the religious community.  "Our 
membership has doubled in the past month," said Andy Gussert, Director of 
the state's Fair Trade Coalition.



The coalition has joined a national effort to contact members of Congress on 
April 13th, the date of the first CAFTA hearing.  "My job in Wisconsin is 
easier than other states," said Gussert.  "Most of our delegation has 
already voted against unfair trade agreements during the past two years." 
Eight of ten Wisconsin federal officials recently opposed the Australian 
free trade agreement that would define powdered milk outside of dairy 
products, allowing Aussies to flood U.S. markets.



Senator Russ Feingold highlighted unfair trade agreements as a central theme 
in his recent landslide U.S Senate victory.  Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner 
(R-WI) Voted NO on granting most favored nation status to China in 2000, NO 
on the Australia agreement, and in favor of withdrawing from the WTO. 
Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) - a supporter of past free trade agreements --  
has already come out opposing CAFTA.



This struggle to stop CAFTA is also a referendum on the 10-year old North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has failed to deliver on the 
many promises made by politicians one decade ago.  More jobs are being 
outsourced, companies are being offshored, immigration is up, family farmers 
are hurting, and the Mexican worker now makes less than he did ten years 
ago.



"Ben Franklin said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over 
and over and expecting different results," said Gussert.  "If we continue 
with CAFTA, we will have the same results of increased offshoring and 
outsourcing that was created by NAFTA."


Because of "fast track," if a committee decides to send the trade pact to 
the floor, they can only vote yes or no and it must be done within 60 days. 
"They haven't pulled the trigger because they don't want the embarrassment 
of losing," said Lori Wallach, a former trade lawyer who is director of 
Public Citizen Global Trade Watch. "There's never been a situation where an 
agreement has sat around this long."



For CAFTA opponents, victory will not likely come in a congressional defeat 
of the treaty. Instead, Bush will not formally submit the treaty for 
ratification because he realizes it doesn't have the votes.



-30-



Background:  Wisconsin Delegation Voting Records on Trade



Most of our Wisconsin Delegation - both Republican and Democrat - have taken 
strong stands against free trade policies in the past.  For example, eight 
of ten federal officials opposed the recent Australian Trade Agreement, with 
only Congressmen Ryan and Petri supporting it.



Strong stands from Wisconsin Republican and Democrats:



  a.. Senator Russ Feingold (D) - along with Representatives Baldwin (D) and 
Obey (D) -- consistently oppose unfair trade agreements.  Feingold spent 
millions on educating voters about trade as a central theme in his recent 
landslide Senate victory.  He has become a national leader on this issue.


  a.. Congressman Mark Green (R) Voted NO on implementing the US-Singapore 
free trade agreement in 2003, and NO on the Australia Treaty in 2004.  Green 
is currently fighting for fairness in the Laos agreement, and will likely 
oppose the Thailand agreement.


  a.. Congressman Ron Kind (D) Voted NO on 'Fast Track' in 1998, and has 
come out early to oppose CAFTA as it is now drafted.


  a.. Congressman Sensenbrenner (R) Voted NO on granting most favored nation 
status to China in 2000, No on Australia, and voted to withdraw from the 
WTO.


  a.. Senator Kohl (D) Voted NO on establishing a free trade agreement 
between US & Singapore in 2003, Voted NO on the agreement between the US and 
Chile, and voted NO on Australia.


  a.. Governor Jim Doyle (D) removed Wisconsin from CAFTA Treaty, and pulled 
back Wisconsin calling centers that had been outsourced overseas.


In depth congressional voting records can be found at 
http://www.wiscotrader.org/action.htm



Procedural Note: The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will be 
the biggest free trade agreement Congress has considered in more than a 
decade. The Bush Administration is ready to test whether they have enough 
votes in Congress to pass CAFTA. This will be done through formal hearings 
in the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. 
Because of "fast track," if a committee decides to send the trade pact to 
the floor, they can only vote yes or no and it must be done within 60 days.

_______________



Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition ~ 3129 Hermina Street Suite, Madison WI 53714

Tel 608.237.1659 ~ www.wiscotrader.org ~ email agussert@charter.net