[20060210]RS22164_DR-CAFTA：区域问题.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS22164Updated February 10, 2006DR-CAFTA: Regional IssuesClare RibandoAnalyst in Latin American AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryOn August 5, 2004, the United States signed the U.S.- Dominican Republic-CentralAmerica Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) with five Central American countries(Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the DominicanRepublic. DR-CAFTA could have a significant effect on U.S. relations with the regionby establishing a permanent reciprocal trade preference arrangement among thesignatory countries. The House and Senate passed the required implementing legislation(H.R. 3045) for DR-CAFTA in July 2005, and President Bush signed it into law (P.L.109-53) on August 2, 2005. DR-CAFTA has been ratified by five of the six legislatures(Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua), butratification has stalled in Costa Rica, and significant opposition to the agreement existsin many of the signatory countries. Implementation of the agreement has been delayedfrom the original target date of