They said it couldn’t be done, and it was done. After five years of intense lobbying efforts by diplomats, governments, politicians, and even sports figures (such as Sammy Sosa), the US Senate yesterday voted 76-19 in favor of granting Central America and the Caribbean nations the same trading conditions as granted to Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement. For the bill to become law, it yet needs to be conciliated with the African Growth and Opportunity Act passed by the House of Representatives. The bill passed by the Senate awards these conditions to subSahara African countries as a way to promote US investment and development conditions in Africa. Afterwards, President Bill Clinton needs to sign the bill. President Bill Clinton, a major sponsor of the trade initiative, said that the expansion of the Caribbean Basin Initiative trade package creates new advantages for Central America and the Caribbean and is a way for the US to be a good neighbor. He said it would be good for the US economy in the long range. Only goods manufactured with US materials qualify for the quota-free and duty free exemptions.
