December 17, 2003 CONTACT: Brian O'Malley, 202-675-6279 BUSH ADMINISTRATION TRADE DEAL PUTS COMMUNITIES AT RISK Statement by Carl Pope, Executive Director "In announcing the deal struck over the new Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with four Central American nations today, the Bush administration has missed an opportunity to use trade to foster balanced development. Instead, today's agreement would expand the privileges of global corporations at the expense of the environment, working families and communities. "The Bush administration is using CAFTA to pressure the rest of Latin America into agreeing with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). CAFTA must be judged not only for its impacts on Central America and the United States, but as a model for the hemisphere. "The trade deal offered today would not only give foreign investors greater rights under U.S. law to challenge community and environmental safeguards; it also could force governments to weaken environmental standards covering a wide-range of services. Under CAFTA's provisions, governments could be barred from setting limits on mining and logging activities in ecologically sensitive areas, and from requiring agribusinesses to use pesticides safely. "CAFTA also could increase food safety risks, essentially requiring food-importing countries to accept on faith the safety of fruit, vegetables and meat crossing their borders. "We can do better: · A responsible trade policy would open up markets and protect the environment as opposed to exposing our communities to new risks. · Investor rules should ensure that global corporations have with no greater rights than US citizens have under US law. · New rights for businesses should be matched with enforceable responsibilities. · Rules on trade in services should include meaningful exceptions for public interest laws. · Food trade agreements should include provisions requiring the adoption of the highest safety standards on farms and in processing plants. The American people want trade, but trade that is safe, clean and fair. The Bush administration's proposed CAFTA does not achieve that objective." # # # Brian O'Malley Media Coordinator Sierra Club Phone: 202-675-6279 Fax: 202-547-6009 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Make your voice heard! Find out how to get Take Action Alerts and other important Sierra Club messages by email at: http://www.sierraclub.org/email