US Expands Hemispheric Trade Domination

The United States, continuing to envelop developing countries' domestic markets, just concluded the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Costa Rica walked away from the negotiations.

Proudly, the Office of the United States Trade Representative has sent around an email containing statements of support for CAFTA. Not sure whether exploitive animal industries stand to benefit from the agreement? Don't take our word for it; just see who supports CAFTA:

"This is a great deal for the US cattle industry. We asked the US government to fight for trade initiatives that reduce barriers to access for US 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 Ambassador Zoellick and Ambassador Johnson, supported completely by President Bush and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, did not let us down...."          -National Pork Producers Council

"...[This] agreement that will not only bring more stability to US poultry exports but provides a positive framework for growth in exports in the years ahead."       -National Chicken Council

"The US/Central American Free Trade Agreement is a victory for the principles of free and open trade, and it should turn out to be a very positive deal for the turkey industry, for all agriculture in the United States and for all the nations involved in the agreement."       -National Turkey Federation