Maria Cantwell: “today, I proudly announce my support for S. 1307, a bill implementing the Dominican Republic-Central America- United…”

“today, I proudly announce my support for S. 1307, a bill implementing the Dominican Republic-Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA. There is much in CAFTA that helps Washington State. I generally support trade agreements such as CAFTA because I believe that free trade is the best way to raise the standard of living for all Americans and for all people in other countries with which we trade. I believe that once other nations have access to our goods, culture and ideas, we will find that the world will adopt the best attributes of America, including our values. The alternative to supporting CAFTA is unworkable. If CAFTA fails, the Nation's efforts to negotiate future trade agreements will be badly damaged. Congress has to pass CAFTA because it offer benefits to all CAFTA signatories, and because in light of the broader trade context our negotiators would suffer a setback if CAFTA does not pass. Washington State has historically benefited from liberalizing trade laws. For example, in the first year following the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement, Washington State exports to Chile more than doubled. And since NAFTA passed in 1993 Washington exports to Canada and Mexico have increased by 130 percent. CAFTA promises to confer some of the same benefits on Washingtonians. CAFTA makes all U.S. exports to the CAFTA countries duty free in 10 years, and most of these tariffs are eliminated immediately. U.S.…”