Gutierrez Optimistic About Trade Deal (CAFTA)

[meganmonkey]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez says he's optimistic the Bush administration can ``get the facts out'' and win the necessary votes in Congress for a free-trade agreement with six Latin American countries.

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The agreement faces significant opposition from Democrats who contend it doesn't do enough to protect American workers from unfair competition from low-wage countries with lax environment protections.

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Gutierrez said that because the six countries buy yarn and fabric made in the United States, the U.S. textile industry would be helped by CAFTA's elimination of all U.S. tariffs on clothing from those countries shipped into the United States. The agreement also will gradually eliminate those countries' duties on U.S. yarn and fabric.

``If we don't get the agreement, that textile business that we are part of today will most likely go to China. So this is very important free-trade agreement for the textile industry,'' Gutierrez said.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4962865,00.html