CAFTA battle will be bruising.

Backers of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), a small yet pivotal trade pact with wide implications for the administration’s free-trade agenda, are preparing for what could be a bruising battle to pass it in the House. As the House comes into session today, CAFTA supporters, who include many business and agriculture groups and most House Republicans, kick off a monthlong sprint to bring the agreement to a floor vote before the July 4 recess.

Should they fail, it would lend ammunition to an already strong opposition consisting of labor unions, the sugar industry and most House Democrats.

(6-7-05, The Hill.)