Congress extends Andean, Haiti trade benefits
In the closing hours of the 2006 session of Congress, lawmakers approved an extension of trade benefits that included the expiring Andean trade pact and separate trade benefits for Haiti.
The congressional action means trade with the Andean pact nations' Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador'will continue unchanged until bilateral agreements with the individual nations can be voted on by the next Congress.
While the Andean pact extension had broad support, the trade benefits for Haiti were more controversial and were initially opposed by a group of eight senators from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. They said trade benefits for the apparel industry in Haiti contributed to lost textile industry jobs in the U.S. However, only two of those senators voted against the sweeping trade and tax legislation put together at the end of the session. The broad bill included many other items besides the Caribbean and Latin American trade agreements.
Congress extends Andean, Haiti trade benefits
