Isabel Eiras News Today

The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement wouldexpand markets for Central America, the Dominican Republic, and theUnited States; help to integrate these countries into the globaleconomy; encourage needed economic reforms; bolster positivepolitical trends; and signal the entire hemisphere that Washingtonis serious about market integration and helping its neighbors todevelop.

The Bush Administration and Congress should cut spending to balancethe federal budget, lower corporate and personal income taxes, andcontinue to support the expansion of economic freedom. Economicfreedom is the foundation of U.S. economic growth and strength, andmore economic freedom at home will help to ensure this prosperityand strength.

On April 12, the United States and Peru concluded negotiations forthe United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, a major advancein economic and security relations between the U.S. and LatinAmerica's fifth most populous country. Peru's legislature hasalready approved the deal, and it now awaits action in the U.S.Congress. Economically, this free trade agreement (FTA) with Peruwill benefit producers in both countries with greater market accessand consumers with less expensive products...

The Montenegrin parliament is delaying approval of the government's package of free-market measures, designed to improve the investment environment and encourage informal small and medium businesses to enter the formal market. The package includes a reduction of employers' payroll taxes and contributions to pension and health care. This time, however, reform is being held up by the World Bank, not by local interests or politics.

Women's income in free economies is almost 10 times their income in repressed economies and more than double their income in mostly free economies.

People desire a world without extreme poverty, lawlessness, hunger,and disease, but the Millennium Development Goals focus largely on alleviating symptoms of poverty, not its causes. If the World Bankand the IMF are to play a constructive role in eradicating poverty,their lending programs must encourage the governments of poorcountries to promote economic growth as the solution to poverty.

China has been a member of the World Trade Organization for almosttwo years but is still dragging its heels on fulfilling its WTOcommitments. Because it is clear that China will not change itsbehavior unless it faces credible prospects of retaliation,persuading it to comply with its WTO obligations will take acombination of economic leverage and diplomatic pressure.

Leaving developing economies outside emerging international security regimes would both widen the gap between the developed and developing worlds and create new opportunities and sanctuaries forterrorists to exploit. The United States should help countries jointhe fight against terrorism by promoting free trade agreements,ensuring that foreign assistance programs do not perpetuate badpolicies, and better organizing U.S. efforts to offer technicalsecurity assistance.

With U.S. influence in Latin America on the wane and China andVenezuela ascendant, a trade agreement makes sense.

Congress should act quickly on bilateral free trade agreementssigned between the United States and allies Peru and Colombia. Suchagreements benefit the economies of all partners and enhance agrowing free trade bloc. Extending trade preferences for a shorttime to Bolivia and Ecuador could sustain market openings whileleaders decide on permanent reciprocal agreements.