The Central America conference 2005 is part of a global week of action for trade justice
(For further information on other events in the UK and elsewhere see www.tjm.org.uk)  

Central America potentially faces a deepening  social, economic and environmental crisis as a result of a new trade agreement with the US which will prove devastating to the poor majorities of these countries. The Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR - CAFTA) promotes trade liberalization between the United States, five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic  Civil society organisations In Central America including NG0s, social movements, farmers’ organisations, and trade unions, fear that CAFTA will mean more exploitation of workers, job losses, environmental degradation, loss of land,  to large corporations, migration, the privatisation of essential services and an increase in the cost of healthcare and drug treatment.  DR – CAFTA is not just about trade. As Burke Stansbury from the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador has pointed out: ‘This agreement turns peple’s lives, society, the environment and culture, their labour, health and land, into products for sale with the profits flowing to a rich minority.’ 

DR-CAFTA has been signed by the governments of the seven countries involved but has to be ratified by their legislatures: to date only the National Assembly of El Salvador has done so.  DR-CAFTA faces considerable oppposition, both in the US and in Central America. The next few months will be crucial  in terms of mobilising against DR-CAFTA in the US, the Dominican Republic and Central America.

The intention of the Bush administration was to extend free trade agreements to cover the whole of Latin America through a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA’s significance is much greater than the economic region it covers). These agreements are planned to extend to the entire western hemisphere. If it can be defeated, the corporate free trade agenda will be in deep crisis. Though the agreement has now been signed in these countries, the fight against CAFTA is far from over.

The focus of the conference will be on looking at the inspiring actions the Central American people are taking in their struggle for social and economic justice and on what we can all do to act in solidarity.

Events