Dominican Republic Ratifies CAFTA

The Chamber of Legislators of the Dominican Republic approved the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) Tuesday by a vote of 118-4. Costa Rica and Nicaragua are now the only signatory countries that have not ratified CAFTA, which will take effect Jan. 1.The Dominican Republic’s Senate approved the agreement Aug. 26 (TT, Sept. 2). El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the United States have also approved it. Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco has shown no sign of sending CAFTA to the Legislative Assembly for debate (TT, Sept. 2)