05 LC 98
0845
House
Resolution 724
By:
Representatives Coleman of the
144th,
Stephens of the
164th,
Parrish of the
156th,
and Casas of the
103rd
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the United States Congress to pass the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America
Free Trade Agreement; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)
presents an important opportunity for Georgia's elected Congressional leaders to
make a substantial positive contribution to the state's economic growth,
increase worker incomes, and provide new opportunities for those who are seeking
work in higher-paying, export-oriented jobs; and
WHEREAS,
the DR-CAFTA will expand and make reciprocal the market access for goods,
services, and agricultural products that the United States Congress has
unilaterally granted to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua for the past 20 years; and
WHEREAS,
these six countries represent the fifth largest growth market of exports from
1999 to 2003, the 13th largest export market and second largest Latin American
export market after Mexico, and the largest potential new FTA partner in more
than a decade; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's exports to the DR-CAFTA countries equaled over $677 million in 2004,
making the group Georgia's ninth largest export market; and
WHEREAS,
according to a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the DR-CAFTA would help
Georgia's economy increase output across all industries by $262 million one year
after implementation and $1.4 billion nine years after implementation, increase
employee earnings across all industries by $52 million one year after
implementation and $283 million nine years after implementation, and create
1,516 new jobs one year after implementation and 8,691 new jobs nine years after
implementation; and
WHEREAS,
for Georgia's agricultural producers, who are the sixth largest of state
agricultural exporters to the DR-CAFTA market, this legislation will eliminate
tarriffs on 50 percent of U.S. exports immediately, and most remaining duties
withing 15 years, benefitting Georgia's key exports, including cotton, poultry,
peanuts, and meat exports; and
WHEREAS,
for Georgia's manufacturers, the DR-CAFTA will immediately eliminate tariffs on
80 percent of U.S. exports and all remaining tariffs within ten years, including
the up-to-15 percent tariffs on chemical, machinery, paper, and transportation
equipment exports; and
WHEREAS,
for Georgia's textile and apparel industry, this legislation is critical to
expanding existing partnerships and giving U.S.-DR-CAFTA goods a competitive
edge, especially as global quotas were lifted at the beginning of 2005;
and
WHEREAS,
this legislation will benefit Georgia's service providers by eliminating
substantial barriers and providing important access for express delivery
carriers and will benefit Georgia's information technology producers by
requiring all countries to eliminate tariffs by joining the WTO's Information
Technology Agreement, open up information technology services, including
telecommunications, promote e-commerce, and protect intellectual property
rights; and
WHEREAS,
by providing greater economic opportunities and stronger rules for the
protection of intellectual property rights and investment as well as improved
enforcement of labor and environmental protections, this legislation will give
nations with an all too recent history of violence and oppression a vital chance
to increase their security, stability, and prosperity.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body urges
the United States Congress to pass the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America
Free Trade Agreement.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to each member of
the Georgia Congressional delegation.