ITC to review impact of CAFTA.(International Trade Commission)(Central American Free Trade Agreement)

The U.S. International Trade Commission has started an investigation to assess the impact of a free-trade agreement between the United States and five Central American countries.The Bush administration concluded a free-trade agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in August 2004. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requested the ITC investigation on Nov. 17 and requested that the Dominican Republic be excluded from CAFTA because of its tax on beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. The Dominican Republic Senate has begun action to repeal the tax but the president of the Senate remains a supporter of the offending tax.The …