| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Tita Freeman |
| April 20, 2005 | (202) 496-3269 | Letter
to Members of Congress Outlines Importance to U.S. Economic Growth WASHINGTON,
DC -In a letter delivered today to all Members
of Congress, Business Roundtable urged support for the U.S. - Dominican Republic/Central
America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). "From an economic standpoint,
DR-CAFTA will create a market for U.S. goods and services in Latin America that
is second in size only to Mexico. It will immediately reduce restrictions on 80
percent of U.S. industrial exports and more than 50 percent of agricultural exports
to the region, leveling the playing field for U.S. farmers, workers and businesses.
The International Trade Commission estimates that U.S. exports would rise by $2.7
billion under DR-CAFTA to nearly $20 billion," the letter stated. The letter
was signed by Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President & CEO, The McGraw-Hill
Companies, and Chairman, Business Roundtable International Trade and Investment
Task Force, on behalf of Business Roundtable's 160 member companies. "DR-CAFTA
will be one of the most important trade votes in Congress in recent history. It
will determine whether the United States continues to encourage economic growth
and political stability in Central America and the Dominican Republic. It will
also send an important signal as to whether the United States is committed to
a leadership role in advancing free trade in the Western Hemisphere and worldwide,"
the letter concluded. Click here to view a copy
of the letter. # # # Business Roundtable (www.businessroundtable.org)
is an association of chief executive officers of leading corporations with a combined
workforce of more than 10 million employees in the United States and $4 trillion
in revenues. The chief executives are committed to advocating public policies
that foster vigorous economic growth and a dynamic global economy.
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