Statement of USTR Spokesman Stephen Norton Regarding
CAFTA-DR Implementation
December 30, 2005

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"The United States has been working intensively with free trade agreement partners in Central America and the Dominican Republic in order to implement the CAFTA-DR. The United States will implement the CAFTA-DR on a rolling basis as countries make sufficient progress to complete their commitments under the agreement.

"Several countries are close to being ready to implement but none has completed all of their internal procedures. For example, on December 15 El Salvador’s Congress passed a legislative package to implement the CAFTA-DR. Once the Congress sends the legislation to President Saca for signature in early January, El Salvador will have the ability to issue further regulations and complete its internal steps and the final CAFTA implementation review process with the United States.

"The United States will continue to work intensively with CAFTA-DR partners to bring them on board as quickly as possible. At the same time, the implementation process should not be rushed. Otherwise, the benefits of CAFTA-DR to farmers, workers, businesses and consumers of the United States and of its CAFTA-DR partners could be jeopardized.

"During the interim period before full implementation, countries can continue to enjoy existing trade preferences."