NYT: Bush Free Trade Pact (Cafta) Faces Trouble in Congress

Free Trade Pact Faces Trouble in Congress
By ELIZABETH BECKER
Published: May 10, 2005


WASHINGTON, May 9 - Social Security is not the administration's only economic initiative that is in trouble in Congress.

The current centerpiece of President Bush's trade agenda, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, is facing unusually united Democratic opposition as well as serious problems in overcoming well-entrenched special interest groups like sugar producers and much of the textile industry.

With record trade deficits, concerns about lost jobs and an overarching fear that the United States is losing out in the accelerated pace of global changes, the sentiment in Congress is shifting away from approving new free trade agreements.

"I don't like Cafta; I am not going to vote for it; and I will do whatever I can to kill it," said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader. "We are approaching a trillion-dollar trade deficit. We can't survive as a viable, strong country doing that."

Even more troubling to the administration, which says free trade agreements are critical components of any effort to enhance American global competitiveness, is the stance of Republicans like Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, who wants to hold off on new bilateral trade agreements....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/10/business/worldbusiness/10trade.html