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General Assembly Action on the Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA)
That the
216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
do the following:
1. Declare our opposition to the Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in its current form, as it fails to
adequately protect workers' rights, human rights, food security,
and environmental standards, and it limits the ability of governments
and sovereign indigenous peoples to regulate corporations to
protect the common good.
2. Direct the Stated Clerk to communicate with the president
of the United States and members of Congress the opposition
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to the Central American
Free Trade Agreement and other free trade agreements.
3. Direct the General Assembly Council, through the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) programs dealing with economic justice, hunger,
and advocacy, to promptly communicate the General Assembly position
to the U.S. trade representative, U.S. senators and representatives,
congressional committees with trade jurisdiction, and state
legislators, with emphasis on those sections of CAFTA and other
free trade agreements that negatively affect our partners.
4. Request the General Assembly Council to identify sisters
and brothers and institutional partners who have been impacted
by free trade policies, and help interpret these stories and
effects to church members through itineration in the U.S. and
inclusion of these into a congregational study guide on trade
issues and economic globalization.
5. Direct the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through
Investment (MRTI) to explore the implications of CAFTA and other
free trade agreements and advise the General Assembly.
6. Call on presbyteries, churches, and church members
to do the following:
a. Become
educated about how CAFTA, and other free trade agreements,
can further economic globalization policies that are unsustainable
and unjust, by drawing on the resources of the Presbyterian
Hunger Program, the Presbyterian Washington Office, and other
offices of the National and Congregational Ministries Divisions.
b. Advocate
with state legislators and U.S. senators and representatives,
urging them to oppose CAFTA and other free trade agreements
in their current form.
c. Join
in coalitions with community and nonprofit groups, including
other Christian denominations, which are organizing opposition
to CAFTA and other free trade agreements with similar provisions.
RATIONALE
from for Action from Commissioners' Resolution
10
Reasons to Say No to CAFTA? (PDF, Adapted from CISPES)
Action
on CAFTA
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