[Ip-health] A bunch of business groups' statements on CAFTA

[Mike Palmedo]

This was sent by the USTR today...
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Statements About The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)

"This agreement should pave the way for a substantial expansion of business=
 ties between the U.S. and Central America."
-United States Chamber of Commerce

"The Roundtable believes that this agreement can serve as a model of how de=
veloping and industrial nations can work together to find consensus on trad=
e liberalization."
-The Business Roundtable

"This is an enormous step forward in our 20-year policy of economic engagem=
ent with Central America."
-Business Coalition for U.S.-Central America Trade

"[T]he rules that have been agreed in the U.S.-Central America FTA appear t=
o be strongest and highest-quality that have ever been incorporated into a =
trade accord.  From investment to intellectual property and from services t=
o government procurement, this agreement appears to be the new gold standar=
d that future trade negotiations must try to meet or surpass."
-National Association of Manufacturers

"This agreement becomes part of an expanding network of open markets that i=
s being created in the Western Hemisphere.  We see today's achievement as a=
 significant step towards the goal of a hemisphere-wide trade and investmen=
t pact."
-Council of the Americas

"This is a great deal for the U.S. cattle industry.  We asked the U.S. gove=
rnment to fight for trade initiatives that reduce barriers to access for U.=
S. beef, and that's exactly what we are getting with this new agreement."
-National Cattlemen's Beef Association

"The Central America nations wanted to exclude pork from the CAFTA but Amba=
ssador Zoellick and Ambassador Johnson, supported completely by President B=
ush and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, did not let us down=
... [W]e are very excited about the CAFTA agreement because it will provide=
 significant new opportunity to our producers."
-National Pork Producers Council

"...[This] agreement that will not only bring more stability to U.S. poultr=
y exports but provides a positive framework for growth in exports in the ye=
ars ahead."
-National Chicken Council

"On the whole, this agreement is a win for the U.S. rice industry.  While C=
entral America has been one of our biggest customers, we now have guarantee=
d market access for rough and milled rice, which is something we did not ha=
ve before."
-USA Rice Federation

"The [Central America] region has become in the last few years a very good =
market for U.S. poultry, and the agreement means that this trend will conti=
nue."
-USA Poultry and Egg Export Council

"The U.S./Central American Free Trade Agreement is a victory for the princi=
ples of free and open trade, and it should turn out to be a very positive d=
eal for the turkey industry, for all agriculture in the United States and f=
or all the nations involved in the agreement."
-National Turkey Federation

"U.S. dairy product suppliers will see substantially greater success in the=
se markets for cheese, ice cream, whey proteins, and milk powder."
-U.S. Dairy Export Council

"This is a very positive agreement, not only for U.S. business, but also be=
cause it will encourage growth in the economies of Central America.  Insura=
nce plays a key role in a country's economic development...."
-American Insurance Association

"This was a difficult and complicated agreement and the U.S. government neg=
otiators have worked tirelessly to get a critical mass of our priorities in=
 the four markets that signed on..."
-American Council of Life Insurers

"The travel goods provisions in the final agreement ensure that the FTA is =
a win-win for both the U.S. travel goods industry and Central America... Th=
is is a huge victory for the U.S. travel goods industry."
-Travel Goods Association

"This agreement recognizes express delivery services as a unique service se=
ctor and includes important commitments to maintain market access for our i=
ndustry... The agreement includes important new provisions that should ensu=
re fair competition between public and private providers of express deliver=
y services..."
-The Air Courier Conference of America

"We also support this Agreement for demonstrating yet again that trade agre=
ements can be achieved while embracing both trade liberalization and the pr=
omotion of cultural diversity.  This historic Agreement will go a long way =
in protecting and promoting the creative industries of all our countries."
-Motion Picture Association

"This new agreement is another important milestone in [the effort] to signi=
ficantly improve protection of the intellectual property rights of America'=
s composers, performers and sound recording producers in other countries."
-Recording Industry Association of America

"...[W]e are pleased with the strong commitments in the areas of services, =
intellectual property, regulatory transparency, e-commerce and investments.=
  The U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement also addresses dealer prot=
ection laws, which had hindered U.S. business development in the region."
-Information Technology Industry Council

"The work...[on this agreement]...led to an outcome of which the entire tel=
ecommunications industry can be proud."
-Telecommunications Industry Association

"By securing high levels of obligations on copyright protection and enforce=
ment, the United States has signaled that it seeks the widest dissemination=
 of copyright-based enabling technologies and entertainment products among =
our neighbors..."
-International Intellectual Property Alliance

"We are extremely pleased with the inclusion of measures that will facilita=
te trade by improving customs regulations and practices in these four Centr=
al American countries.  This agreement will not only improve business and c=
reate jobs, but will also enhance the critical infratstructure necessary to=
 realize the full benefits of free trade..."
-Latin American Association of Express Companies

"The agreement is a good deal for corn growers and the grains industry over=
all."
-National Corn Growers Association

"The agreement will offer immediate duty free access for more than 1 millio=
n metric tons of U.S. corn, with tariffs dropping to zero in all four count=
ries within 15 years.  The market potential for U.S. feed grains is extreme=
ly high and demand will grow due to this historic agreement."
-U.S. Grains Council

"The Bush administration has reached a monumental milestone for fair trade =
opportunities for U.S. apples with our neighbors in Central America."
-U.S. Apple Association

"We are pleased to have the grape tariff elimination included in the agreem=
ent and urge Congress to ratify the agreement...This tariff elimination is =
just the latest example of how the industry works together for the benefit =
of every fresh grape grower in the state."
-California Table Grape Commission

"This agreement, if approved by Congress, would allow for additional market=
 access for U.S. potato products to these markets... The reduction of tarif=
fs on fries was a high priority for the potato industry."
-National Potato Council

"On behalf of U.S. soybean producers, I congratulate the Bush Administratio=
n for a job well done.  This agreement will solidify our position as the pr=
eferred supplier of soybeans and soybean products to these Central American=
 nations.  For that we are grateful."
-American Soybean Association

"It's going to make it much easier to compete... [T]ariffs range from 14 pe=
rcent to 28 percent [on apples]... That equates to an additional $2.25 to $=
4.50 per carton that importers have to pay on our product that they don't h=
ave to pay on the Chilean product. [S]o we believe that if Congress ratifie=
s this free trade agreement, which is the next step, that this will get us =
back on competitive footing."
-Northwest Horticultural Council

"Overall, CAFTA will benefit the food, beverage and consumer products indus=
try.  However, if the United States is to maintain its commitment to free t=
rade, it should not create special exceptions that will insulate select com=
modities such as sugar from free trade."
-Grocery Manufacturers Association

 "The markets in Central America are of growing importance to our members. =
 CAFTA will level the playing field for everyone doing business there and f=
or those Central American companies wanting to do more business in the Unit=
ed States."
-Pet Food Institute