US Proceeds with Labor Enforcement Case Against Free Trade Partner Guatemala

On September 18, 2014, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, joined by President Trumka of the AFL-CIO, Ranking Member Levin, Representatives Becerra and Price, and Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu to announced that the Obama Administration was taking action on behalf of workers, both here and around the world, by proceeding with a labor enforcement case against Guatemala under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement ("DR-CAFTA").

BACKGROUND. On April 23, 2008, the AFL-CIO and six Guatemalan unions filed a petition, the first of its kind, under the labor provisions of DR-CAFTA with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Trade & Labor Affairs.