A signing ceremony was scheduled Friday for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, but the Bush administration says Congress won't vote on the pact before the Nov. 2 general election.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said the administration is planning to seek votes before the election in support of only two free-trade deals: Australia and Morocco. Zoellick said the only chance for Congressional consideration of CAFTA would be in a lame-duck session on Capitol Hill after the election.
U.S. sugar interests, among others, oppose CAFTA on the grounds it would increase access to U.S. sugar markets.