CAFTA-DR modifications to have minimal trade impact

The U.S. International Trade Commission said currently proposed modifications to the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement would have a minimal economic impact on the U.S. economy.    The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) said currently proposed modifications to the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) would have minimum economic impact on the U.S. economy.
   The ITC made its report at the request of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
   The ITC’s report, Probable Economic Effects of Certain Modifications to the CAFTA-DR Rules of Origin, reviews the probable economic impacts of proposed CAFTA-DR modifications impacting chemical products, polyvinyl chloride and other plastics, gaming machines and fishing lures.
   “The proposed modification for the rule of origin for fishing lures could result in a significant increase in U.S. imports of fishing lures from CAFTA-DR partner countries,” ITC said, for example. “However, because U.S. imports from CAFTA-DR countries are a small portion of total U.S imports of fishing lures, the effect on total U.S. imports of these products is likely negligible.”
   “For all other products, the likely effects on U.S. imports from CAFTA-DR partner countries are negligible,” the factfinding agency said.