Tom Carper: “free trade--when done correctly--can be an important tool in building consumer demand for U.S. products worldwide…”

“free trade--when done correctly--can be an important tool in building consumer demand for U.S. products worldwide, encouraging investment and growth in developing markets, and forging new alliances. Today, Congress is considering an agreement to expand trade with Central America and the Dominican Republic. Delaware is already heavily engaged in trade with Central American countries, with $25 million in exports in 2004. In fact, a large amount of the fruit imported through the Port of Wilmington by Chiquita and Dole come from Central America. However, while 75 percent of Central American products enter the United States tariff free, almost all U.S. goods continue to face tariffs in Central America. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement, or DR-CAFTA, will level the playing field for U.S. workers and businesses that rely on exports to Central America and the Dominican Republic by providing immediate, duty-free access for more than 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial goods. For Delaware, this will lift tariffs on the fabrics supplied by companies like Invista to sewing operations in Central America, making textiles in the Americas more competitive with China. Delaware's poultry producers will finally gain access to Central American markets under DR-CAFTA. When the agreement goes into effect, some U.S. chicken products will be given immediate duty-free access, and that access will expand annually until duties are eliminated.…”