USTR Asks for Comments on Guatemala Labor Case in CAFTA

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative asked for comments on the U.S.-Guatemala labor dispute settlement under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (here). The U.S. resumed litigation in the dispute in September 2014, after agreeing to a bilateral Labor Action Plan the year before (see 14091902). Guatemala is falling short of CAFTA-mandated labor protections, notably freedom of association and worker’s conditions, in the shipping, apparel, steel and agriculture sectors, said an Obama administration legal briefing in November (see 1411050013). The briefing cites more than 400 total labor violations. Comments are due by Feb. 20, and USTR prefers comments are submitted through www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2014-0023.