Contact: Nate Herman
Phone: 703-797-9062
Email: nate@travel-goods.org

TGA Applauds House Passage of CAFTA

Princeton, NJ — 1 July 2005 — Travel Goods Association President Michele Marini Pittenger applauded last night’s action by the U.S. House of Representatives, approving by a vote of 217-215 the U.S./Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The vote follows approval of CAFTA by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 54-45 on June 30. “Many TGA members have important trade relationships with Central America and the Dominican Republic,” noted Pittenger. “This vote is a huge victory for TGA and the U.S. travel goods industry.” Pittenger continued, “On behalf of the U.S. travel goods industry, I wish to express my thanks to the members of Congress who took a principled stand and voted “YES” on this critical agreement. Those members looked beyond partisan and protectionist politics and did what was right for American workers, for American businesses and for American families, as well as for workers in Central America and for the fragile democracies in the region. This historic vote symbolizes the United States’ continued commitment to free trade and the immense benefits it brings to hardworking U.S. families as well as to the flourishing, yet fragile democracies taking hold in the region.”

CAFTA, in the first agreement of its kind, makes ALL U.S. travel goods (both textile and non-textile) exports to and imports from Central America and the Dominican Republic duty-free immediately under very flexible rules of origin. Pittenger concluded, “CAFTA equips the region with the tools necessary to compete against Asia and elsewhere. This not only benefits our industry, but also the hardworking U.S. families who buy our products. We now hope the Bush Administration implements this important agreement as quickly as possible.”

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The Travel Goods Association is the voice of the U.S. travel goods industry. A national trade association, TGA represents the manufacturers, distributors and retailers of luggage, leather goods, business and travel accessories, business and computer cases, handbags and other products for people who travel.