Bush Reiterates Interest in Free Trade With Central America

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 25, 2002

Bush Reiterates Interest in Free Trade With Central America

Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush on Sunday reiterated the interest of his government in a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Central America.

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Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush on Sunday reiterated the interest of his government in a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Central America.

In a joint news conference together with Salvadoran President Francisco Flores at the presidential palace, Bush said he hopes the process of negotiations could develop quickly.

"We intend to push as hard as we possibly can to get the trade agreement done. I was very serious when I announced the trade agreement, and we're going to work hard to expedite the agreement, " Bush said.

Bush hinted at possible bilateral FTA negotiations with El Salvador, which, however, goes in contrast with the negotiation strategy set by Central American private business sector. The Central American private business sector has insisted on negotiating as a regional block.

Five countries of Central America, namely El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, exported 8.335 billion dollars worth of goods to the United States in 2000, but imported from the country 11.547 billion dollars. The deficit is more than offset by billions of dollars sent back by Central American immigrants living and working in the United Sates.

A group of demonstrators marched peacefully in San Salvador on Sunday to protest proposals of free trade between Central America and the United States as an exploitation of cheap labor. They also demanded the legalization of nearly 300,000 Central Americans living illegally in the United States.

At the press conference, Bush promised to tackle the issue of illegal immigration until next September.

Salvadoran analyst Napoleon Campos said he felt let down, because he had expected an announcement of greater advance in the immigration issue and relations between the United States and El Salvador.

In this sense, the meeting between Bush and Flores was nothing but one for public goodwill gestures, Campos said.

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