- By fontaine@antadis.com
- In
Honduras Us Free Trade Agreement
Why has the DCFTA, like the U.S. trade agreements before and after, not curbed widespread labour abuses? Kim Elliot, a member of the Labor Department`s National Advisory Committee on labor provisions in U.S. free trade agreements, recently made this blunt statement: The labor provisions of U.S. trade agreements « are in effect because they are necessary to get business through Congress. » She added: « It`s really just about politics and not how to raise labour standards in these countries. » On February 18, 2005, the seven members of THE CAFTA signed two agreements to facilitate the implementation of the environmental provisions of their free trade agreement. Chapter 17 (Environment) of the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic and Central America and the United States (D.R. CAFTA) states that « each Party shall ensure that its laws and policies provide for and promote a high level of environmental protection and shall strive to further improve such laws and policies ». The Agreement establishes an Environment Council to monitor implementation and review progress under this Chapter. The Chapter also contains provisions on public participation both in the European Court of Auditors and as part of national efforts, including a public presentation process that allows members of the public to raise concerns if they believe that a Party is not effectively enforcing its environmental legislation. The agreement on the establishment of a Secretariat for Environmental Affairs aims to manage this public submission mechanism. The Agreement establishes a secretariat to examine these comments and, in meritorious cases, to prepare an information sheet. The Secretariat of the Central American Organization (SIECA) is requested to create a new entity that will serve as the Secretariat of the CAFTA-DR within the Environment Chapter.
Describes the trade agreements in which this country is involved. Provides resources for U.S. companies to obtain information on the use of these agreements. The Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) includes the United States and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Implementation dates are between March 1, 2006 and January 1, 2009, depending on the country. Information for U.S. exporters can be obtained from the Department of Commerce at 2016.export.gov/FTA/index.asp. Most CAFTA-DR goods currently enter the U.S. duty-free and free of charge for goods handling (MPF), and virtually all will be imported free of charge until the agreement is fully implemented on January 1, 2025. Draft texts from Central America – United States The free trade agreement was opened to the public on 28 January 2004. On February 20, the Office of the President of the United States informed Congress of its intention to conclude a free trade agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Collateral agreements were published in March 2004 covering issues related to agriculture, the environment, financial services, investment, services/investment, telecommunications and textiles. The Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Central America was signed on May 28, 2004. The official start of negotiations was announced on 8 January 2003 in Washington D.C announced by the United States Trade Representative and the Ministers of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and concluded negotiations between the United States and four of the Central American countries on 17 December 2003. An agreement was concluded between Costa Rica and the United States on 25 January 2004. Under the agreement, the parties significantly free trade in goods and services. THE DCFTA-DR also includes key disciplines related to customs administration and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, government procurement, investment, telecommunications, e-commerce, intellectual property rights, transparency, occupational safety and environmental protection. CAFTA-DR creates new trade opportunities for the United States while promoting regional stability, economic integration, and economic development for a significant group of U.S. neighbors. On the 24th. In September 2001, five Central American countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua — met with the United States on the margins of the IX meeting of the FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee (NTC) to discuss ways to deepen their bilateral trade and investment relations. On 27 November, technical discussions were launched to this end within the framework of the « Trade Dialogue » between Central America and the United States.
On 16 January 2002, the President of the United States announced his intention to examine the possibility of negotiating a free trade agreement with Central America. The U.S. Congress was formally informed of its intention to open free trade negotiations on October 1, 2002. Dominican Republic joins CAFTA negotiations In November 2003, the United States announced that it would join the negotiations. On the 12th. In January 2004, the United States and the Dominican Republic launched the first of three rounds of negotiations on the Dominican Republic`s integration into THE CAFTA. Negotiations were concluded on 15 March 2004 and the draft agreement was published on 9 April. The DCFTA-DR strengthens the rights and conditions of workers in the region by upholding the occupational health and safety to which workers are entitled under the countries` national laws.
This includes the first industrial action under a free trade agreement to ensure that Guatemalan workers can exercise their rights under Guatemalan law. We remain committed to helping Guatemala achieve this result and reaping the benefits of law enforcement to uphold internationally recognized labour rights. The Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in 2006 for the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, in 2007 for the Dominican Republic and in 2009 for Costa Rica. As a result of the free trade agreement, 100% of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial goods to DCFTA-DR countries will no longer be subject to tariffs. Tariffs on almost all U.S. agricultural products will expire by 2020. In order to benefit from duty-free treatment under the FTA, products must comply with the applicable rules of origin.
El Salvador was the first CAFTA country in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ratify the agreement and have it adopted by Congress on 17 December 2004. Honduras ratified the agreement on 3 March 2005 and Guatemala on 10 March 2005. The U.S. Congress approved the agreement in July and the President signed it on August 2, 2005. Nicaragua ratified the agreement on 10 October 2005. On 6 September 2005, the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic approved the CAFTA of the Dominican Republic and sent the agreement to the President for signature. On February 28, 2006, the President of the United States issued Proclamation 7987 implementing the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States […]