Senate Passes Cafta Agreement

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he Senate approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement late Thursday, by a 54-45 vote after intense lobbying from the Bush administration, the Associated Press reported.

The agreement would ease trade restrictions between the U.S. and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Cafta faces a tougher time in the House, which may vote on it in July, AP said.

Lawmakers who oppose the measure believe the agreement would allow continued worker abuses in those countries and hurt the U.S. sugar industry, AP said.

The House Ways and Means Committee voted Thursday in favor of the agreement, while the the Senate Finance Committee approved Cafta Tuesday.

Supporters, including American Trucking Associations’ Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference, have said CAFTA would boost investment and trade among the United States and Central American countries.