CAFTA – A Solid Day’s Work Advancing America’s Economic and Security Interests

Charlie Stenholm
July 26, 2005

Of all the accomplishments recorded in baseball record books, the one that I find the most impressive is Cal Ripken’s streak of 2,632 consecutive games played.  This record wasn’t set by extraordinary athletic feats, but by showing up for every game regardless of its importance.   Some games involved high stakes or dramatic performances, but most did not.  But when he retired, Cal Ripken’s streak was a testament to what can be accomplished by simply doing your best every day.

 

Votes on trade agreements are often treated as a legislative version of a World Series game, with the significance of the agreement exaggerated by both sides. The upcoming vote on CAFTA is no different.  Despite the intensity of the debate on both sides, the vote on CAFTA isn't a World Series game.   The reality is that countries involved in CAFTA are too small to have much of an effect – positive or negative – on the U.S. economy. 

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice recently made some very strong remarks criticizing the shortcomings of Middle Eastern governments regarding democracy and human rights.  Her remarks essentially laid down a marker of the basic democratic values a nation must follow in order to have good relations with the United States.  This stick should be balanced by support for countries that are moving toward greater freedom and democracy. 

 

We should apply this approach to our own hemisphere.  After all, Central America is our backyard.  These folks are our neighbors. CAFTA presents an opportunity for the United States to provide a concrete sign of support for the tremendous strides these nations have made toward establishing stable democracies and respecting human rights.

 

In the 70’s and 80’s American politics was dominated by debates over our relationship with Central America and how to deal with the violence and political instability in the region.  Since then they have made remarkable progress in building democracy and strengthening human rights.  Although by most yardsticks they have a ways to go they will never get there unless they continue to apply the principles of free enterprise, free elections, and basic application of human rights under established law with fair and impartial enforcement.

 

Expanded trade is a powerful tool for America to export our values, practices and democracy along with our products. Witness collapse of the former Soviet Union compared to our failed efforts in Cuba.   Implementation of CAFTA will reinforce democratic processes and rules of law in Central America because implementation requires greater transparency and accountability in governance. Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos said, “This free trade agreement with the U.S. will provide tools for democracy.”

 

CAFTA is not a panacea for the social and economic problems in Central America.  Much remains for them to do.   As the old adage says, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Approval of CAFTA will help lead Central American countries to continuing these domestic reforms that improve the lives of Central Americans.

 

From 1991 to 2002 agriculture trade between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. increased by $21 billion.  Trade between NAFTA countries and the rest of the world increased by $6 billion.  While NAFTA has not been an unblemished success for agriculture, it hasn’t been a failure either.

 

The truth about trade is that there are always successes and failures, winners and losers. But for our Nation and others the successes have outweighed any failures.   The only way to build on our successes and address the shortcomings is through negotiation.  Ratification of CAFTA will strengthen the U.S. agenda in all other trade discussions, especially the WTO. 

 

America should not retreat from being a world leader on trade.  We have made important strides through Democratic and Republican administrations in advancing fair trade, although we have a long way to go ourselves in leading by example.   

 

Defeat of CAFTA would send a worrisome signal that the U.S. is abandoning the goal of expanded trade and is not committed to a freer and fairer world trade agenda.  That would not be in the National Security and Homeland Security interests of America. Congress should approve CAFTA and keep working to craft trade and economic policies that will allow our nation to go into WTO negotiations with a strong bipartisan commitment to aggressively competing and winning in the international marketplace.

Links:

CentristPolicyNetwork.Org  The Breakdown in the Bipartisan Consensus on Trade  (May 11, 2005)

 

CentristPolicyNetwork.Org  Ways and Means Mock-Up Document Makes Constructive Improvements in DR-CAFTA  (June 15, 2005)