CAFTA Resource Archive
CAFTA Resource Archive
Featured Public Citizen Reports & Memos
- Costa Rica Doesn’t Need CAFTA to Benefit From U.S. Trade Preferences (September 12, 2006)
- Trade Wars – Revenge of the Myth: Deals for Trade Votes Gone Bad (December 5, 2005)
- Capitulo 11 Del Tlcan Y Los Litigios De Inversionistas Contra Estados (Octubre 2005, Spanish Version)
- Fool Me Twice? Chamber of Commerce Distorts NAFTA Record, Hides CAFTA Costs (July 22, 2005)
- NAFTA’s Threat to Sovereignty and Democracy: The Records of NAFTA Chapter 11 Investor-State Cases – Lessons for CAFTA (February 2005)
-
CAFTA By the Numbers: What Everyone Needs to Know (July 8, 2004)
Public Citizen Factsheets, Reports & Memos
- Costa Rica Doesn’t Need CAFTA to Benefit From U.S. Trade Preferences (January 1, 2007)
- CAFTA’s Textile Promises Begin to Unravel – Monitoring Report: DR-CAFTA in Year One, Stop CAFTA Coalition (September 12, 2006)
- New Year Sees Delay in CAFTA Implementation, AmericasPolicy.org and Public Citizen (January 5, 2006)
- Missed January 1 Deadline for Start of CAFTA Underlines the NAFTA Record and Threats of its Expansion (January 1, 2006)
- Trade Wars – Revenge of the Myth: Deals for Trade Votes Gone Bad (December 5, 2005)
- Appendix of Trade Wars, Revenge of the Myth: Deals for Trade Votes Gone Bad (December 5, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: After Freshman Congressman Tim Murphy Provides Vote That Passed CAFTA, Constituents Ask: Did Murphy Vote for CAFTA to Gain Favor With GOP Leaders, Win Corporate Campaign Contributors or Get Pork Barrel Funds? (October 21, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Freshman Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick Flip-Flops on Commitments to Oppose CAFTA, Providing Vote that Passed the NAFTA Expansion (October 21, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Rep. Jim Gerlach Abandons Environmental Record on Land Use, Pennsylvania’s Working Families and Small Farmers to Vote “Yes” on CAFTA (October 21, 2005)
- CAFTA Deals Watchdog Report: July 4th Fireworks Over Fake “Sugar Deal” (October 21, 2005)
- CAFTA Deals Watchdog Report: Pennsylvania Republican Flip-flops on CAFTA NAFTA Expansion in Exchange for House Vote on Limited China Bill that Faces Uncertain Senate, White House Veto Prospects (October 21, 2005)
- CAFTA Deals Watchdog Report: What Bingaman Buyout? Microscope Sought to Search for Funding (October 21, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: “Flat-out, Completely, Horizontally Opposed to CAFTA,” Rep. Robin Hayes Flip-flops His Initial “No” Vote to “Yes” at Last Minute for Empty Promises on Textiles…Again (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: After Tough Talk on CAFTA, Reps. Inglis and Barrett Sell Out South Carolina Manufacturers and Workers for Unenforceable “Textile Deal”Opening Door to More Chinese Imports (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Despite Significant Job Losses from NAFTA, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) Casts a Deciding Vote for Expansion of NAFTA to Central America (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Despite Significant Job Losses from NAFTA, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas) Casts a Deciding Vote for NAFTA Expansion to Central America (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: On Night of Decade’s Biggest Trade Vote, Rep. Charlie Taylor Was Missing in Action; Lack of Vote Contributed to CAFTA’s Passage (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) Reverses Strong CAFTA Opposition, Becomes Prominent Flip-flopper and Casts Deciding Vote For Expansion of NAFTA to Central America (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Rep. Robert Aderholt’s CAFTA Flip-Flop on Basis of Empty Sock Promise Will Leave Him Wearing Nothing But (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: Rep. Steven LaTourette, Either Duped or Dishonest on CAFTA (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Damage Report: With Illinois Jobs at Risk, Freshman Rep. Melissa Bean Flip-Flops from Campaign Pledge to Oppose NAFTA Expansions, Casts a Deciding CAFTA Vote (September 9, 2005)
- CAFTA Deals Watchdog Report: In Exchange for Supporting CAFTA, Will Rep. Sanford Bishop Buy the Same Peanut of a Deal He Was Promised (and Betrayed on) in 1997? (July 27, 2005)
- Fool Me Twice? Chamber of Commerce Distorts NAFTA Record, Hides CAFTA Costs (updated) (July 22, 2005)
- NAFTA’s Cautionary Tale (Economic Policy Institute) (July 21, 2005)
- New Annotated Version of Key CAFTA Investment Text (June 14, 2005)
- New Annotated Version of Key CAFTA Labor Text (June 14, 2005)
- Myth vs. Reality: CAFTA Cannot “Save” Central American Textile/Apparel Industry or Safeguard the U.S. Industry After WTO/MFA Quotas End (May 23, 2005)
- The Real Pirates of the Caribbean: U.S. High Tech Industry’s False CAFTA Promises Disguise Bad Policy (May 10, 2005)
- Another Americas is Possible: The Impact of NAFTA on the U.S. Latino Community and Lessons for Future Trade Agreements (August 1, 2004)
- Why We Say No to CAFTA: Analysis of the Official Text (Bloque Popular Centroamericano, Alliance for Responsible Trade, Hemispheric Social Alliance) (June 30, 2004)
Public Citizen Press Releases & Statements
- Conspicuously Absent at Summit of the Americas: A U.S. President Pushing ‘Washington Consensus’ or Trying to Revive the Hempisphere-Wide ‘Free’ Trade Agreement (April 17, 2009)
- Close Tally on CAFTA by Costa Rica in First-Ever Public Vote on a NAFTA Expansion Shows That Bush Administration’s Continual Push for These Deals Hurts U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America (October 8, 2007)
- By Signing colombia Free Trade Agreement Without Addressing Democrats’ Concerns, Bush Administration Signals It Would Rather Play Partisan Political Games Than Pass a Trade Agreement (November 22, 2006)
- Rep. Gerlach Touts Support for Israel Now, but Supported Free Trade Agreement with Bahrain, a Nation That Refuses to End Israel Boycott (June 8, 2006)
- New Study Documents Increase in Corporate PAC Cash for Representatives Who Cast Decisive Votes for CAFTA (February 14, 2006)
- National Advocacy Group Lauds Hawaii Legislators’ Leadership in Working to Safeguard State and Local Authority in International “Trade” Negotiations (February 3, 2006)
- Missed January 1 Deadline for Start of CAFTA Underlines the NAFTA Record and Threats of its Expansion (January 3, 2006)
- Votes by Reps. Jim Matheson, Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop For CAFTA Grease the Way for Gambling in Utah
- Freshman Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick Flip-Flops on Commitments to Oppose CAFTA, Providing Vote that Passed the NAFTA Expansion (September 14, 2005)
- After Freshman Congressman Tim Murphy Provides Vote That Passed CAFTA, Constituents Ask: Did Murphy Vote for CAFTA to Gain Favor With GOP Leaders, Win Corporate Campaign Contributors or Get Pork Barrel Funds? (September 14, 2005)
- Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) Reverses Strong CAFTA Opposition, Becomes Prominent Flip-Flopper and Casts Deciding Vote for Expansion of NAFTA to Central America (August 31, 2005)
- Despite Significant Texas Job Losses From NAFTA, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) Casts a Deciding Vote for Expansion of NAFTA to Central America (August 29, 2005)
- Despite Significant Texas Job Losses from NAFTA, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas) Casts a Deciding Vote for NAFTA Expansion to Central America (August 29, 2005)
- With Illinois Jobs at Risk, Freshman Rep. Melissa Bean Flip-Flops on Campaign Pledge to Oppose NAFTA Expansions, Casts a Deciding CAFTA Vote (August 25, 2005)
- On Night of Decade’s Biggest Trade Vote, Rep. Charlie Taylor Was Missing in Action; Lack of Vote Contributed to CAFTA’s Passage (August 25, 2005)
- Rep. Steven LaTourette: Either Duped or Dishonest on CAFTA; Cleveland Republican Says His Last-Minute Flip-flop on CAFTA to Vote “Yes” Was Done to Obtain Tariff Cuts on Central American Plywood for Local Furniture Company, But Plywood from Central America Has Been Duty-Free for Decades (August 12, 2005)
- Rep. Jim Gerlach Abandons Environmental Record on Land Use, Pennsylvania’s Working Families and Small Farmers to Vote “Yes” on CAFTA (August 5, 2005)
- Rep. Robert Aderholt’s CAFTA Flip-Flop on Basis of Empty Sock Promise Will Leave Him Wearing Nothing But (August 4, 2005)
- “Flat-Out, Completely, Horizontally Opposed to CAFTA,” Rep. Robin Hayes Flip-flops His Initial “No” Vote to “Yes” at Last Minute for Empty Promises on Textiles … Again (August 1, 2005)
- With NY Jobs at Risk, and Dominican-American Constituents Opposing, Did Rep. Gregory Meeks Trade Deciding Vote for CAFTA-NAFTA Expansion in Exchange for Corporate Campaign Cash, Pork Barrel Funds or Other Empty Promises? (August 1, 2005)
- Close CAFTA Vote Shows Shift in Trade Politics (July 28, 2005)
- State Legislators From 21 States Launch Anti-CAFTA Effort (July 14, 2005)
- CAFTA Limps to House Where Its Fate Will Be Sealed: 54-45 CAFTA Passage is Closest Senate Trade Vote Since NAFTA (June 30, 2005)
- New Public Citizen Report Documents Systematic Bipartisan Betrayals on “Deals” Made in Exchange for Trade Votes, From Clinton’s NAFTA Deals to Bush Deals (June 16, 2005)
- On One-Year Anniversary of CAFTA Signing, Public and Congressional Opposition to This NAFTA Expansion Grows (May 26, 2006)
- New Hampshire Joins Majority of States in Rejecting CAFTA’s Restrictions on State Procurement Policy (May 16, 2005)
- In Historic Veto Override Today, Maryland Legislature Revokes Governor Ehrlich’s CAFTA Commitment and Forbids Future Procurement Sign-Offs by Governors Without Legislature’s OK (April 11, 2005)
- Leaders Cannot Avoid the Skunk at Trinational Picnice: NAFTA’s 11-Year Record is Uninvited Guest at NAFTA Meeting (March 23, 2005)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Distorts NAFTA Record, Hides Potential CAFTA Costs to United States, Central America (March 21, 2005)
- Canadian Cattlemen’s NAFTA Challenge Demanding U.S. Taxpayer Compensation for Mad Cow Import Restrictions Is Latest Example of Trade Model’s Assault on Democratic Policymaking, Vital Consumer Safeguards: New Study Analyzes 42 NAFTA Investor-State Challenges; Illustrates How Proposed CAFTA Would Extend Threat (February 22, 2005)
- As Global Quotas End, CAFTA Will Not Save Central American Textile and Apparel Industry (February 14, 2005)
- Leaders of Major U.S. Latino Organizations Say NAFTA Expansion is Anti-Latino and Damaging to Central America (February 8, 2005)
- Bush Promotes Corporate, Anti-Consumer Agenda in State of the Union: Public Citizen’s Response to Bush on Legal Rights, Energy and Trade (February 2, 2005)
- Despite Timing of CAFTA Signing, Bush Administration Cannot Prevent Public Scrutiny of Failed NAFTA Model (May 27, 2004)
- Day After Announcing Dubious “Stimulus” Package Aimed at Creating Jobs, Bush Administration Launces Talks to Expand Job-Killing NAFTA: After Millions of Layoffs During the Bush Recession and Massive Growth-Chilling Trade Deficit, President Pushes NAFTA Expansion to Central America (January 7, 2003)
Members of Congress & Civil Society Organizations Speak Out
- Sens. Dorgan, Brown, Sanders to President Bush re: USTR Statements on the Costa Rican-CAFTA Referendum (October 5, 2007)
- Reps. Pelosi and Reid to Costa Rican Ambassador Attesting to the Fact That There Is No Connection Between CAFTA Implementation and CBI Benefits (September 28, 2007)
- Rep. Sanchez to Secretary of State Rice Requesting Information on U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Langsdale’s Alleged Attempts to Influence CAFTA Referendum vote (September 28, 2007)
- Members of Congress to USTR Portman re: CAFTA Implementation (April 7, 2006)
- Environmental Groups to U.S. Senate: Narrow Senate Passage of CAFTA Spells Trouble for Anti-Environmental Trade Agreement (July 1, 2005)
- Global Exchange: CAFTA and the Environment (May 31, 2005)
- Seirra Club: Say “No” to NAFTA Expansion in Central America (April 1, 2005)
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Opposes CAFTA (July 18, 2004)
- Friends of the Earth and NRDC: The Threat to the Environment From the Central America Free Trade Agreement: The Case of Harken Costa Rica Holdings and Offshore Oil (June 29, 2004)
- Friends of the Earth: CAFTA and Foreign Investor Lawsuits: A Threat to Environmental Standards (June 29, 2004)
- U.S. Groups Oppose CAFTA: The CAFTA Signed Today Falls Short on the Environment (May 28, 2004)
- Washington Office on Latin America: What is CAFTA and Why Is It Important? (February 25, 2004)
- Environmental Groups to U.S. Senate: Opposing CAFTA – Recently Released Text Falls Short on Environment (February 18, 2004)
- Citizens Trade Campaign: What is CAFTA Fact Sheet (February 12, 2004)
- Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador: CAFTA Fact Sheet (December 11, 2003)
- Civil Society Groups’ Packet: Fair Trade or Free Trade? Understanding CAFTA (December 11, 2003)
- Center of Concern and International Gender and Trade Network: What You Need to Know About CAFTA (June 2, 2003)
Public Citizen Testimony
- Testimony of Lori Wallach on Proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA Expansion before the House Ways and Means Committee (April 21, 2005)
- Testimony of Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini Before the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere before the House International Relations Committee (April 13, 2005)
Legislation