Chuck Grassley: “the Senate has just passed S.1307, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement…”

“the Senate has just passed S.1307, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. I am confident that history will record this moment as an important positive step in the development of democracy and prosperity in the CAFTA countries. And I am also confident that our leadership in passing CAFTA will be rewarded, through the benefits we will enjoy under this trade agreement and in terms of advancing our overall trade agenda. First and foremost, today's vote reflects the leadership of President George W. Bush to advance the national economic and security interests of this country. This agreement is another important piece of the President's overall agenda to increase market access opportunities for America's farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and service providers. By passing CAFTA we also strengthen our position in the ongoing Doha Development Agenda negotiations of the World Trade Organization. I hope our Trade Representative, Ambassador Portman, will build upon the momentum created today to press for meaningful progress in the Doha Round negotiations. I want to thank the members of the Administration who delivered the comprehensive CAFTA agreement. At the top of that list is our former Trade Representative, Ambassador Zoellick, who managed to negotiate such a carefully balanced agreement without taking anything off the table.…”