The United States has congratulated the Nicaraguan government for passing the US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA-DR.

In a statement issued on October 11, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) hailed Nicaragua's action.The United States and its CAFTA-DR partners "are working towards a target date of January 1, 2006, for implementing this agreement," said the USTR office.

The State Department, in a separate statement, welcomed the Nicaraguan General Assembly’s decision to join with the United States, the Dominican Republic, and three other Central American countries in ratifying the Central America Free Trade Agreement,” calling the action Nicaragua’s best opportunity to derive the benefits of trade and investment that will increase employment and bring prosperity to the Nicaraguan people.”

Costa Rica is the only country covered by the pact that has not yet ratified it.