The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, Cafta-Dr

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) and trade ministers from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic signed the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) on August 5, 2004. Nearly one year later, it faced a contentious debate and close vote in both houses of the U.S. Congress. The Senate passed implementing legislation 54 to 45 on June 30, 2005, with the House following in kind 217 to 215 on July 28, 2005. President Bush signed the legislation into law on August 2, 2005 (P.L. 109-53, 119 Stat. 462). The United States has implemented the agreement for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. In Costa Rica, legislative consideration of CAFTA-DR has been a prolonged process, culminating in the decision to hold a national referendum. On October 7, 2007, the people of Costa Rica voted in favor of CAFTA-DR 51.6% to 48.4% (subject to official recount), setting the stage for final consideration by the National Assembly.