Central America Free Trade Agreement and Neo-Imperialism

Calvin DutcherDr. Carter

U.S. Foreign Policy Making

Occasion for Decision

• 1994- North America Free Trade Act• 2001- President Bush- expand free trade to

Central and South America

Actors

• Presidents of Nicaragua and El Salvador• US. Trade Representatives-Robert Zoellick/Regina

Vargo• The White House- Trade Promotion Authority (2002)-President Bush-Condoleezza Rice (NSA)-Colin Powell (Secretary of State)• Bill Frenzel (Chairman of Advisory Committee for

Trade and Policy Negotiations)

Election of 2004

• Opposed by the Democrats- Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi

• Flip in Majority in the House- Republicans now controlled House, Senate, and White House

• Richard Lugar (R-Indiana)- Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Affairs Committee

• Tim Delay (R-TX)- House Majority Leader

CAFTA

• Fast-tracked through the Senate and House • 54-46 in Senate• Voting process-violation• 271-215 in House• Signed into law August 2, 2005

Skepticism of Neo-imperialism

• Winners: U.S. businesses • Losers:- U.S. American public- Central/South America• Lessons- Impact on future trade agreements- Trans-Pacific

Partnership- International community skeptical of U.S. motives- Results undermine U.S. authority