In the May 16, 2005, issue of Grand Rapids Business Journal it was apparent that likely 90 percent of the general population had no idea that years of work had been given to the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement, nor could federal legislators tell us how they might vote on the international trade treaty, though the presidents of six nations visited Capitol Hill. The very narrow passage of CAFTA last week by the U.S. House of Representatives is welcome, especially in West Michigan. Area Republicans supported the measure, including U.S. Reps. Vern Ehlers, Peter Hoekstra, Joe Schwarz and Fred Upton. President George W. Bush will likely sign the legislation soon. His reported view of the treaty emphasizes that CAFTA is about its positive long-term economic value.
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