CAFTA

Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)

The following countries signed CAFTA-DR in 2004 to be used as a tool to increase economic development, reduce the level of poverty, and support democratic principles:

• Costa Rica 
• The Dominican Republic 
• El Salvador
• Guatemala 
• Nicaragua 
• Honduras
• The United States 

In general, the agreement makes permanent the access of these countries’ products to the largest market in the world—that of the United States. The agreement will also remove many tariffs that now exist on U.S. manufactured goods that enter these countries

Costa Rica entered into force on January 1, 2009.

Listed below are selected links that provide more information on CAFTA-DR and its current status:

The U.S. Government on CAFTA

The United States Trade Representative (USTR)

• USTR - Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement
• USTR - CAFTA Briefing Book

State Department

• Overview of Trade Capacity Building Assistance to Costa Rica (pdf document)

Department of Commerce 

• U.S. Commercial Service Costa Rica: U.S. - Central American Free Trade Agreement CAFTA 

Congressional Research Service 

• Agriculture in the U.S. - Dominican Republic - Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR - CAFTA) (pdf document)
• The Dominican Republic - Central America - United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA - DR)(pdf document)

Congress 

Senate Hearings 

• To consider favorably reporting S. 1307, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, and S. J. Res. 18, a joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 
• To review and make recommendations on proposed legislation implementing the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement
• The U.S. - Central America - Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement April 13, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. in 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building 
• Hearings of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee - U.S. Senate
• A bill to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement

House of Representatives Hearings

• The Committee on Energy and Commerce
• Committee on Ways and Means Markup of H.R. 3045, the "Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act"
• To implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 

Others on CAFTA 

1. World Bank 
   
2. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
3. Business Roundtable 
4. Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America
5. National Association of Manufacturers 
6. Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) 
7. Central America: Global Integration and Regional Cooperation 

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