[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN BASIN TRADE PARTNERSHIP ACT

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the United States-
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, because it will strengthen the 
mutually beneficial relationship that exists between the United States 
and the smaller countries of the Caribbean Basin.
  Due in large part to the Caribbean Basin initiative, which was 
proposed by President Reagan in 1982 and passed by the Congress in 
1983, trade between the United States and Caribbean Basin nations have 
more than doubled in the past dozen years and now equal close to $30 
billion a year. During that time, U.S. trade with the CBI region has 
generated roughly 18,000 new export-oriented jobs each year. What was 
once a trade deficit of $2.7 billion with the Caribbean is now a United 
States trade surplus of over $1 billion.
  Mr. Speaker, passage of H.R. 2644 will strengthen the United States-
Caribbean Basin trade partnership while at the same time enhancing the 
competitiveness of United States firms and workers. I strongly urge my 
colleagues to support this important bill.

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