Home > News > 2005 News

McDermott Urges Attendance at Important CAFTA Forum
For Immediate Release - Tuesday, March 29, 2005

The pros and cons of the controversial proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), including implications for Washington State, will be explored at a forum this Thursday, March 31, from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., on the University of Washington campus, Sieg Hall 134.

The forum was developed at the urging of Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), who called for everyone to attend. The event is free and open to the public.

"International trade is vital to the economic well being of Washington," McDermott said. "It would be fair to say that people and companies around the state have a vested interest in CAFTA; I want to know what people think about this proposed agreement."

McDermott is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and he sits on the International Trade Subcommittee, giving him a key role in all international policy issues and agreements. McDermott said he will take the comments from the forum on Thursday night and submit them for the record when Congress reconvenes in early April.

Noted panelists will explore the pros and cons of four key areas of CAFTA:

Participating panelists will include:
   • Rick Bender - President, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
   • Bill Center - Washington Council on International Trade
   • Lawrence Fuell - former Foreign Agricultural Service Officer, USDA
   • Angelina Godoy - Assistant Professor of Law, Societies and Justice, UW
   • Patti Goldman - Managing Attorney, Earthjustice
   • Paul Guppy - Vice President for Research, Washington Policy Center Public Health
   • Carlos Marentes - Grupo Pro-Amnistia y Justicia Social

Kristi Branch, from the World Affairs Council will moderate the forum.

The University of Washington's International Studies Center, the World Affairs Council, and the UW's Business School's Global Business Center are sponsors of the event. It will be held in Sieg Hall 134 on the University of Washington campus.