The US House of Representatives on early Thursday narrowly approved the US-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) after it was approved by the Senate last month.

The vote result, 217-215, was a triumph for US President George W. Bush who has urged the Congress to ratify the agreement to promote free trade with Central American countries.

Bush hailed the passage of the free trade pact in the US Congress.

"CAFTA helps ensure that free trade is fair trade," Bush said in a statement issued by the White House.

"By lowering trade barriers to American goods in Central American markets to a level now enjoyed by their goods in the US, this agreement will level the playing field and help American workers, farmers and small businesses," the statement said.

In addition to Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have also made efforts to persuade a few dozen reluctant Republicans to support the agreement.

But most Democrats voted against the pact, arguing that the pact's labor rights provisions were weak and would result in exploitation of workers in Central America.

The CAFTA-DR has been approved by a 54-45 vote in the Senate on June 30, more than one year after it was signed by the Bush administration.

The European Union quickly welcomed the passage of the trade pact in the US Congress.

"CAFTA's a great thing," EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson told reporters on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. "We're relieved it got through."

Source: Xinhua