President Bush has signed the hard-won Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), restating America's moral commitment to the democracies of the region and U.S. security interests are well served by the pact.
While the President talked of how the agreement will benefit U.S. trade interests, Ambassador Rob Portman, U.S. Special Trade Representative began an outreach program to Democrats in hopes of avoiding partisan wrangling over future trade agreements. Of concern to Portman are not only bilateral agreements, but the need for a solid U.S. position on the Doha Round of GATT negotiations that restart in December.