National Corn Growers Association Applauds Senate Approval of CAFTA-DR
(7-1-05)
The Central American
– Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) cleared
the Senate Thursday by a 54 - 45 vote, a move National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA) President Leon Corzine said is for the good of
U.S. agriculture.
“Our grassroots
membership has spoken, and we applaud Senate leadership for listening
to the voice of agriculture,” Corzine said, in reference to
the grassroots action by corn growers who called their senators
urging passage of the bill that will secure trade standings by leveling
trade tariffs to balance the high duties on commodity products.
“However, our work is not yet over.
The House will soon take
up CAFTA-DR and legislators need to hear from their constituents
on the importance of this bill.”
The House Ways
and Means Committee approved the bill 24 – 11 Thursday; the
House is expected take up CAFTA-DR after its July 4 recess.
CAFTA-DR would create
a free trade area between the United States and the Dominican Republic
and five Central American countries--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua. CAFTA-DR would increase agriculture exports
by $900 million annually, make more than 80 percent of U.S. exports
duty free immediately, increase U.S. manufactured exports by approximately
$3 billion annually.
“This positions
U.S. agriculture and corn growers as suppliers of choice. CAFTA-DR
improves our access to these markets. Corn growers should contact
their legislators by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard,”
Corzine said.
Corn growers can contact
their House representatives by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard
at 202-225-3121.