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GUEST: Krista Hansen, Program Director of Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

It’s been one year since the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, took effect. U.S. exports to four Central American countries grew more than 18 percent last year as a result. Imports were unchanged as the textile trade lagged. According to President Bush, “A lot of people are benefiting” from CAFTA. CAFTA removes taxes on 80 percent of the $15 billion in annual U.S. exports to the region and makes permanent the duty-free access to the U.S. that most products from Central America already have. All of the Central American nations except Costa Rica have ratified the agreement. Tens of thousands of Costa Rican students and teachers marched against ratifying CAFTA on Monday, while the deal remains bogged down in Congress. A nationwide strike is planned.

For more information, visit www.cispes.org, and www.stopcafta.org.