Yesterday was a day of celebration in Santiago, the second largest city that concentrates the largest number of apparel manufacturing plants. The US Senate had just voted in favor of permitting Central American and Caribbean textile plants to export quota-free and duty-free goods using US materials to the US. President Leonel Fernandez said it is a great step forward that will consolidate the foreign investment and increase jobs. The approval by the Senate is a big step in the right direction, but the bill has to be harmonized with a bill already passed by the House of Representatives, and then President Clinton needs to sign it. All this has to occur before 12 November, when Congress takes a recess until January. Analysts say it would be best if the bill passes now as in January, the start of an electoral year, the congressmen may have other agendas.
