US President George W. Bush formally sent the Dominican Republic – Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) to Congress on Thursday, asking lawmakers to ratify the treaty soon. The agreement marks a historical development in our relations with Central America and the Dominican Republic and reflects the US commitment to the support of democracy, regional integration, economic growth and opportunities in the region, he explained in the letter submitting the treaty. Congress now has 90 days to approve or reject the text, which cannot be modified, according to the Trade Promotion Authority (fast track). The trade agreement, signed last year and whose ratification was delayed until after the presidential elections of 2 November 2004, is opposed by a number of Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as the sugar sector. The submission took place several hours after a meeting in the White House between the President and the ambassadors of the signatory nations. The treaty has been approved by the parliaments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and is pending approval in the US, Costa Rica, DR and Nicaragua.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050623-2.html