US President Clinton released a statement on Friday, 14 April congratulating the US Congress for moving on the Africa-CBI trade legislation. He also urged Congress to complete the remaining work on the bill so that the final approval could occur during the first week after the Easter recess. President Clinton called the bill "a win-win proposition" for the US and African and Caribbean Basin nations. He said it would "boost investment, economic growth, and job creation in these countries, while improving the global competitive position of our own textile industry. It will help promote economic reform, reduce poverty and broaden participation in the benefits of the global economy." The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean nation that stands to gain most from the passing of the NAFTA-parity provisions. US National Cotton Council president, Robert E. McLendon also praised the agreement saying it would boost US cotton use and help the US textile industry maintain its competitiveness. He foresees the establishing of manufacturing affiliations. News sources say that House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) was the key in breaking the logjam, when he convinced House members to move closer to the Senate position on the treatment of textiles and apparel imports from the region. The initiative was taken following a visit of World Trade Organization director general Mike Moore to Hastert. The compromise grants duty free and quota-free access for: 1) apparel manufactured in Caribbean countries from U.S. fabric (made from U.S. yarn), 2) a limited amount (250 million square meter equivalents) of apparel made from fabrics knitted in the Caribbean from U.S. yarn (so-called "regional knits") and 3) a limited amount of a specific category of outer wear T-shirts (40 million square meter equivalents). The caps on the regional knits reportedly will grow by 10 percent per year. Aides said if the deal holds, Congress is likely to take up the legislation in early May, before it moves on to the more controversial issue of trade with China. But they warned it is still possible the agreement could unravel, especially if there is strong opposition from textile-state senators.
