I strongly support swift House passage of the U.S./Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). It is critically important for the U.S. textile and apparel-supply industries and the more than 700,000 workers in Florida and across the country that they employ.
Eleven major textile and apparel trade associations have voted to support the swift enactment and implementation of this agreement.
U.S. cotton farmers, yarn spinners, fabric manufacturers, trim suppliers, apparel companies, textile and sewn-product equipment makers and others have come together for one simple reason: Central America represents one of the best markets for U.S. textile companies.
Seventy percent of the clothing made in the CAFTA-DR region is made from U.S. yarns and fabrics. In contrast, Asian garments contain less than 1 percent U.S. content.
Without CAFTA-DR, this region loses its competitive advantage to lower-cost Asian suppliers. Miami's airports, seaports, real estate and many other areas will be affected.
Most important, open markets and free trade have the potential to pull millions of our desperately poor neighbors out of poverty while making them buyers of products made in the United States.
U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martínez did the right thing by voting for CAFTA-DR. I hope that the rest of our state's representatives will follow suit.
GEORGE FELDENKREIS, chairman and CEO, Perry Ellis International, Miami
marketing@alchempro.com
