Bush Aims to Iron Out CAFTA Duty Free Rules

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to smooth over rough spots in procedures designed to give duty free treatment to some goods under the Central American Free Trade Agreement, even if they include materials from outside the region.

CAFTA, which promotes commerce among the U.S., El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, generally requires that goods be made of native materials. Exceptions may be made when the necessary materials are not sold in commercially viable quantities in the region.