Bishops want free trade accord as part of global development plan

Published: 2004-07-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A free trade agreement between the United States and Central American countries must be part of an overall development program if it is to help the poor, said a statement by U.S. and Central American bishops. "Trade agreements are not a panacea for deep-seated problems of poverty and social and economic exclusion," said the statement. "They must be part of a broader agenda of sustainable development that includes financial cooperation and migration policies and programs specifically designed to lift up sectors adversely affected by the agreement," it said. The 1,300-word joint statement was dated July 21 and released in Washington July 22 by the Department of Communications of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It was drafted after a delegation of bishops from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama visited Washington in late June. The delegation briefed U.S. church officials, legislators and independent organizations involved in trade and Latin American issues on their concerns about the Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA.

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